Many clients, especially younger ones buying insurance for the first time, assume dental care is covered by their health plan. It’s not, and that’s your opening.

Whether you're assisting individuals with ACA plans or seniors with Medicare plans, it's easy to overlook standalone dental coverage. With 27% of U.S. adults, roughly 72 million people, lacking dental insurance according to BusinessWire, this is a conversation worth having.

Oral Health Is Whole-Body Health

Your teeth are part of your body, and oral health is closely linked to your overall health. As the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health explains, poor oral hygiene can raise the risk of several diseases elsewhere in the body, from diabetes to dementia.

Yet, aside from pediatric dental, most health plans don't cover dental care. That gap presents both a risk for clients and an opportunity for brokers.

Clients Want It (Even If They Don’t Ask)

Clients often assume dental is included with their health plan until they need a cleaning or a filling and realize it’s not. And while many people might skip vision coverage without a second thought, they tend to be more concerned about their teeth. Some are even more likely to use their dental coverage than their health insurance, making it a surprisingly popular add-on once you bring it up.

It’s also a much easier conversation to have when things are calm. Trying to discuss dental options during Open Enrollment or the AEP can overwhelm clients who are already making big health insurance decisions. But when you bring it up outside of the busy season, you’ll have more time and clients will have more mental bandwidth to consider their options.

There’s No Deadline, So Don’t Wait

Unlike health insurance, there’s no Open Enrollment period for dental. That means you can start these conversations anytime, without having to rush or wait for a specific window. This creates a year-round sales opportunity for a product with strong retention and gives agents a reason to connect with clients and build deeper relationships.

Let AHCP Help You Expand Your Offering

At AHCP, we work with multiple dental carriers, including some that bundle in vision and hearing benefits. We’ll help you get appointed, learn how to present the plans effectively, and find the right fit for your clients, whether they’re young families, retirees, or anyone in between. Dental insurance is easy to offer, and clients genuinely appreciate it. Why not get started today?