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Dental insurance can help you maintain your oral health while helping to lower costs for dental care even if you’re in between jobs. Not only does the CDC recommend that everyone get at least one yearly dental exam, but insurance can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs for procedures that could otherwise have a major financial impact when you’re out of work.1 Aflac offers network and supplemental (additional coverage for expenses your primary plan doesn’t cover) dental insurance plans, along with Dental, Vision and Hearing (DVH) Insurance that can help with dental care whether or not you are employed.
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Dental insurance for the unemployed can help you cover a variety of dental care expenses. Rather than pay your portion of monthly premiums out of your paycheck, as you would with an employer-sponsored plan, you can pay out of pocket to keep your coverage active.2 Usually, dental insurance policies cover:
About half of all Americans receive dental benefits through their employers.3 For people who are unemployed, there are several alternatives:
The ACA Marketplace offers dental coverage through dental-only plans and combination health and dental insurance plans. There are two types of Marketplace dental plans: high and low. High coverage plans have higher premiums but lower copayments and deductibles, while low coverage plans have lower premiums but higher copayments and deductibles.4
You can purchase dental insurance for individuals and families directly from insurance companies. Aflac offers network dental insurance plans that provide coverage for preventative care, basic services, and major services. You can also get supplemental dental insurance coverage from Aflac, which pays cash benefits direct to the policyholder, unless otherwise assigned, to help you pay for expenses not covered by a primary plan. If you have vision and hearing needs as well, Aflac offers DVH plans that combine dental, vision, and hearing coverage collectively in one plan.
Each state governs its own Medicaid program. States are required to provide dental benefits to children covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), but there’s no such requirement for adults.5 Check with your state’s Medicaid office to determine program eligibility.
Dental discount plans are membership programs that give you access to discounted prices on services from participating dentists.6 You would pay for treatment out of pocket, but it could be more cost-effective while you’re looking for your next job as long as you practice good oral hygiene and have no significant dental concerns.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Help cover yourself and your family with coverage from Aflac.
Get StartedFor many people, dental insurance is worth it for a few reasons:
Those who are unemployed can apply for a dental insurance policy by following these steps:
You don’t have to be employed to apply for dental insurance. There are both public and private insurance options on the market, giving you some flexibility when you’re looking for a plan. Aflac’s network dental insurance plans can help meet your oral care needs, while supplemental dental insurance can pay cash benefits to help you with costs that aren’t covered by a primary plan. Aflac’s DVH insurance also offers a cost-effective way to get dental, vision, and hearing coverage collectively with one monthly premium. Chat with an agent today to discuss your coverage needs and get a quote.
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1 CDC – Oral Health Tips for Adults. Updated May 15, 2024. Accessed May 22, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/prevention/oral-health-tips-for-adults.html.
2 HealthPartners – Are you asking these key questions about employer dental insurance costs? Accessed May 22, 2025. https://www.healthpartners.com/plan/blog/dental-insurance-employer-cost/.
3 National Association of Dental Plans – Slightly Fewer Americans have Dental Insurance than a Year Ago, but More Seniors Are Covered: Insights from NADP’s Dental Benefits Enrollment Report. Updated December 17, 2024. Accessed May 22, 2025. https://www.nadp.org/slightly-fewer-americans-have-dental-insurance-than-a-year-ago-but-more-seniors-are-covered-insights-from-nadps-dental-benefits-enrollment-report/.
4 Healthcare.gov – Dental coverage in the Marketplace. Accessed May 22, 2025. https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/dental-coverage/.
5 Medicaid – Dental Care. Accessed May 22, 2025. https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/dental-care.
6 Healthinsurance.org – What’s the difference between dental insurance and dental discount plans? Updated January 15, 2024. Accessed May 22, 2025. https://www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/whats-the-difference-between-dental-insurance-and-dental-discount-plans/.
This is a brief product overview only. Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to NH, NJ, NM, NY, or VA. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on plan selected. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policies and riders for benefit details, definitions, limitations and exclusions. For availability and costs, please complete the form above.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.
Coverage underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York:
Dental: In Delaware, Policies A82100R–A82400R. In Idaho, Policies A82100RID–A82400RID. In Oklahoma, Policies A82100ROK–A82400ROK. In Virginia, Policies A82100RVA–A82400RVA.
Dental, Vision and Hearing: In Delaware, Policy T80000. In Idaho, Policy T80000ID. In Oklahoma, Policy T80000OK. Dental claims are administered by SKYGEN USA, LLC. Vision claims are administered by EyeMed Vision Care, LLC. Hearing claims are administered by Nations Hearing. NOTICE: The coverage offered is not a qualified health plan (QHP) under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is not required to satisfy essential health benefits mandates of the ACA. The coverage provides limited benefits.
Tier One Insurance Company is part of the Aflac family of insurers. In California, Tier One Insurance Company does business as Tier One Life Insurance Company (NAIC 92908).
Aflac WWHQ | Tier One | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
Z2500375
EXP 6/26
