https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:37:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1932780 Thu, 06 Nov 2014 13:58:20 +0000 littlejoy 1932780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: I wonder if our insurance company requires it, because our area doesn't have fluoride in the water?? I just checked their site, and it says they require it, but you can opt out. That's a bit of an oxymoron. And, who is going to penalize us?? The fed isn't requiring it. Odd! Thanks for sharing!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1932734 Thu, 06 Nov 2014 13:47:25 +0000 78h2o 1932734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: As far as I can tell, it looks like dental insurance is not required. <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/dental-coverage/" rel="nofollow">https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/dental-coverage/</a></p> <p>Adult and child dental insurance in the Marketplace</p> <p>Under the health care law, dental insurance is treated differently for adults and children 18 and under.</p> <p>•Dental coverage for children is an essential health benefit. This means if you’re getting coverage for someone 18 or younger, dental coverage must be available as part of a health plan or as a stand-alone plan. While it must be available to you, you don’t have to buy it.</p> <p>•This is not the case for adults. Insurers don’t have to offer adult dental coverage.</p> <p>Under the health care law, most people must have health coverage or pay a penalty. But this isn’t true for dental coverage. You don’t need to have dental coverage, even for children, to avoid the penalty </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1932724 Thu, 06 Nov 2014 13:44:26 +0000 littlejoy 1932724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: Yeah, we'll be getting a penalty this year. Ya know, for the teeth she didn't have until a month ago!! But, I have no idea what the penalty is. </p> <p>**Edited: I just tried looking it up, and it might vary from plan to plan. Either way, we'll probably still opt out until she's 2 or 3. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1932695 Thu, 06 Nov 2014 13:36:36 +0000 78h2o 1932695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: I didn't even think of that. Yikes, it looks like we should have had it for her this year?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1932602 Thu, 06 Nov 2014 13:17:36 +0000 littlejoy 1932602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry to thread jack, but I have a question ... Our insurance let's you opt out, but also says that dental coverage is required for all children under 18. If you opt out, you'll pay a penalty on your taxes. Anyone know what that penalty is? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1932531 Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:29:31 +0000 swurlygurl 1932531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Woah dang! I would definitely skip it.</p> <p>FWIW, my SIL is a dental hygienist and is crazy obsessed with oral care - her and the dentists even say it's not worth bringing toddlers in until after 3 as long as you're brushing their teeth regularly </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1932524 Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:25:35 +0000 dc yoga bee 1932524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's crazy expensive!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1932314 Thu, 06 Nov 2014 11:05:22 +0000 sunny 1932314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yikes. I would skip it. We took LO to a pediatric dentist at 2 and the dentist did a quick visual exam and did not order any additional tests since he thought everything was low risk at this point and I don't think they want to do X-rays unless they think something is going on. The exam was around $120. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1932123 Thu, 06 Nov 2014 09:56:22 +0000 78h2o 1932123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! I think we will skip it this year and maybe next... doesn't seem worth it. </p> <p>It wouldn't be so bad if we were going with the cheapest plan, but I think for DH and I, we need one of the two more expensive plans. They are probably a lot more because they are for an unlimited number of kids of any age (up to 26), so I can see how that would up their costs if you had teenagers, not a single 2-year old.</p> <p>*these rates are per pay period, so x2 per month.<br /> [attach=2480/14/nemhhy.600x82.dental.png] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1931618 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 20:23:58 +0000 birdofafeather 1931618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we took my daughter at 18 months for a getting to know you visit/consultation and it was $55. i think a cleaning would have been $95 total. i would just set money aside for $600 a year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1931617 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 20:22:00 +0000 Jess1483 1931617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Exams at our local pediatric dentist are $20 up to age 3. I'd call around before paying $600! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1931613 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 20:19:46 +0000 Adira 1931613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh wow, that's expensive! I just added Xander to my dental plan, but it didn't cost me that much extra! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1931596 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 20:09:33 +0000 yellowbird 1931596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: I would say no! A cleaning is usually around 70-100$ and an exam maybe 80-90. That seems really expensive for dental insurance! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1931595 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 20:07:31 +0000 MrsRcCar 1931595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have both our boys on our insurance but it was only a few more dollars (around $5) a month to add both. We have a family plan that is pretty inexpensive. I am not really for seeing needing it but we wanted to have it just in case. That said if it was $600 more I would skip it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1931594 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 20:07:27 +0000 Canoli 1931594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have it for both my children (3 and younger) but it doesn't cost me a lot and I am that worrier that something will happen! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1931590 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 20:05:22 +0000 Bao 1931590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I didn't have insurance I got a cleaning for around $70, can't remember what an x-ray was but I know it wasn't more than $200 for both a cleaning and x-ray combined. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1931587 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 20:04:33 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1931587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't. I got an ad in the mail for a $60 uninsured exam/cleaning and took him in for that for his first checkup just before he turned 3 (yes, I'm a slacker). I'll add him on this coming open season. Do dentists in your area run similar promotions? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1931584 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 20:02:28 +0000 catomd00 1931584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just call your dentist and ask what exams and cleanings for that age cost. I doubt it's more than $600. An adults exam and cleaning with X-rays is typically around $300 or so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-it-to-get-dental-insurance-for-a-2-yo#post-1931576 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 19:56:52 +0000 78h2o 1931576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am trying to compare costs of health insurance plans. Dental coverage is an add on. Right now we just have coverage for DH and I. We were considering adding our daughter, who is almost 2 to our plan, but it looks like it would up our premium by about $600 per year...more than doubling the cost. </p> <p>I guess I am just wondering what the chances are that a child's dental bills would be more than $600? I have no idea how much routine care is, or even emergency care.</p> <p>Anyone know how much that stuff costs? </p> <p>Do you have dental insurance for your small children? </p>