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September 18, 2020 - SACRAMENTO – Covered California announced on Thursday that the statewide average rate increase for dental coverage in 2021 will be just 2.3 percent, continuing the trend of holding costs steady for consumers. Family dental coverage offered through Covered California remains an affordable option for many California individuals and families.

“Covered California knows that consumers value taking care of both their health and dental needs,” said Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee. “Whether people are coming to us for the first time, or plan to renew their dental coverage this fall, they will once again see stable and competitive prices.”

The standard benefits for all Covered California enrollees include dental coverage for children, but not for adults. Consumers can purchase optional family dental coverage as an “add-on” to their Covered California health plan. The family dental coverage is offered on a “guaranteed issue” basis, meaning the coverage is available to anyone who wants it regardless of any pre-existing oral health conditions.

Covered California offers both dental health maintenance organization (DHMO) and dental preferred provider organization (DPPO) plans, giving consumers a choice in the type of plan that will work best for them.

New for 2021, Blue Shield of California and Guardian Life Insurance Company of America will join Covered California’s participating dental carriers, which include Access Dental Plan, Anthem Blue Cross, California Dental Network, Delta Dental of California, Dental Health Services and Liberty Dental Plan. Blue Shield will offer a new DHMO product in 18 regions and a new DPPO product in all 19 regions. Guardian will also offer a new DPPO product in all 19 regions.

Premier Access will leave the exchange at the end of 2020. Premier Access’s members have been notified of the plan withdrawal and will be offered the opportunity to pick any plan available to them. They will also be provided the automatic renewal option of the lowest-cost DPPO in their ZIP code.

“Consumers have a wide variety of choices for their dental coverage, and the prices are more affordable than you might think,” Lee said. “Dental coverage is the right choice for many, and we’re proud to offer such good options for those enrolled in plans through Covered California.”

The benefits and rates of Covered California’s family dental plans can be viewed at https://hbex.coveredca.com/insurance-companies/.

Covered California’s open-enrollment period begins on Nov. 1. Consumers who are interested in enrolling can visit www.CoveredCA.com to explore their options and get a quote by using the Shop and Compare Tool. They can also get free and confidential enrollment assistance by visiting www.coveredca.com/find-help/ and searching among the 800 storefronts statewide or the more than 10,000 Certified Insurance Agents who can help consumers in their community in a variety of languages.

In addition, consumers can reach the Covered California service center by calling(800) 300-1506. Those who complete their enrollment by Dec. 15 will have their coverage begin on Jan. 1, 2021.

The family dental plan is optional and comes at an additional cost. While nine out of 10 consumers with health insurance through Covered California get help paying for it, financial help from the federal government or the state is not available for dental coverage. All health plans purchased through Covered California include dental coverage for members under the age of 19. Parents can enroll their children in an optional family dental plan for additional dental coverage.

About Covered California

Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace, where Californians can find affordable, high-quality insurance from top insurance companies. Covered California is the only place where individuals who qualify can get financial assistance on a sliding scale to reduce premium costs. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Depending on their income, some consumers may qualify for the low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal program.

Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the health insurance marketplace work for California’s consumers. It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the governor and the Legislature. For more information about Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.
Source: Covered CA.