Ron Bliss: Dropping or not paying for dental plan

The processing of applications for the Affordable Car Act (ObamaCare) is going much smoother on the Federal Marketplace this year.

But the system is still having some problems. One of the principal mistakes is that medical and dental plans are tied and you cannot drop one without dropping the other. And if you fail to pay for a dental plan, your medical plan can be cancelled – even though you have been making all the payments.

The agents at Affordable Healthcare Pros and a One-Stop Insurance Shop have been dealing with those who wish to drop or change dental plans and it is not an easy process.

It is not something the consumer wants to take on themselves, so if you are looking to change your dental plan or drop it, consult with us first to save yourself some headaches.

The ideal thing would be to have them set up separately so you can drop one, but not the other. That will probably be included into the system next year, but for this year you need a broker to help you through the process. So don’t hesitate to contact us at one of the below numbers. You DO NOT need to be a current client for us to help you.

Also, understand that you cannot get a dental plan on the Federal Marketplace without also choosing a medical plan. We have had several individuals – many of them on Medicare or Medicaid – ask if they can get a dental plan through the Marketplace and the answer is NO.

You can, however, go online to look for dental plans that might work for you. They may not be as inexpensive or as inclusive as those on the Marketplace, but you can still find help. Those who have the Veterans Administration can do like I did – go online and get a plan specifically designed for veterans. We could also help you with that, if you need our help, and we can also help you with Medicare supplements. Again, call us at one of the below numbers, if we can be of assistance. There is no charge for our services.

Ron Bliss is a former sports writer who has been selling health insurance since 2009. He is certified on both the Nevada Health Link and with Covered California. You can reach him directly at 775-224-7169 or can call other agents at our office at 2307 N. Carson Street on one of the following numbers: 775-450-6769, 775-450-6867 or 775-450-7754.