Self-employed people usually get dental and vision coverage by buying standalone plans — either alongside their medical plan on HealthCare.gov or directly from dental and vision carriers — because adult dental and vision aren’t required benefits in ACA health plans. Discount dental plans, community clinics, and HSA or FSA dollars can fill the gaps.
One of the most common surprises I hear from self-employed clients in DeLand, Orlando, and across Central Florida goes something like this: “Wait, my new ACA plan doesn’t cover my teeth?” It’s a fair question, and the answer trips up a lot of people who are used to employer coverage bundling everything together. If you’re self-employed and shopping for your own health insurance, dental and vision are almost always separate purchases. The good news is that filling those gaps is straightforward once you know where to look, and you have more options than you might think.
Why Dental and Vision Aren’t Part of Your ACA Health Plan
Under the Affordable Care Act, dental coverage for adults is not one of the ten Essential Health Benefits that marketplace plans are required to include. Pediatric dental is required for kids under 19, but adult dental and adult vision are both optional add-ons. That’s true whether you’re buying a Florida Blue plan, an Ambetter plan, an Oscar plan, or a UnitedHealthcare plan on healthcare.gov. Your medical premium covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and the other core categories — but your teeth and your eyes are handled separately, just like they often are even with employer coverage.
Option 1: Standalone Dental Plans on the ACA Marketplace
When you shop for a health plan on healthcare.gov, you’ll also see an option to shop for standalone dental plans (SADPs) in the same session. In Florida, multiple insurers offer these marketplace dental plans, and individual adult premiums often fall somewhere in the $15 to $50 a month range depending on the plan design and your county. These plans usually come with an annual benefit maximum in the $1,000 to $2,500 range, a deductible around $50 to $100, and waiting periods of six to twelve months before major work like crowns or root canals is covered at full benefit. One important detail my clients are often surprised by: premium tax credits (subsidies) only apply to your medical plan. They do not reduce the cost of a standalone dental plan, so you’ll pay that dental premium in full no matter your income. For more on the plan side, see what dental and vision plans typically cover.
Option 2: Standalone Vision Plans
Vision works similarly. You can pick up a standalone vision plan through healthcare.gov, or you can go straight to a vision carrier like VSP, EyeMed, or Davis Vision and enroll directly, often for less hassle. Vision plans tend to run $10 to $25 a month and typically cover one comprehensive eye exam per year plus an allowance toward frames, lenses, or contacts. If you wear glasses or contacts and get an annual exam like clockwork, a vision plan usually pays for itself. If you rarely go to the eye doctor, you might come out ahead paying out of pocket instead.
Option 3: Bundled Dental/Vision With a Health Plan
Occasionally a carrier will bundle limited dental or vision benefits into an individual health plan, but in the Florida individual market this is the exception, not the rule. Don’t count on it — always check the plan’s summary of benefits directly rather than assuming coverage is included.
Option 4: Discount Dental Plans (Not Insurance)
This is an option a lot of self-employed folks overlook. Discount dental plans aren’t insurance at all. You pay a monthly or annual membership fee, and in exchange you get a discounted rate (often 10% to 50% off) at participating dentists. There’s no annual maximum, no waiting period, and no claims process. If you mainly need routine cleanings and the occasional filling and want to avoid waiting periods altogether, this can be a smart, low-cost supplement, especially in the months before a standalone dental plan’s major-work waiting period ends.
Option 5: Community Health Centers and Dental Schools
Florida has a strong network of federally qualified health centers and dental school clinics that offer care on a sliding fee scale based on income. If you’re between coverage or need a lower-cost option for a specific procedure, these clinics — including dental school clinics affiliated with programs in Gainesville and Fort Lauderdale — are worth a call. Wait times can be longer, but the savings on major work can be significant.
Option 6: Use Your FSA or HSA
If you’ve paired a high-deductible health plan with a Health Savings Account, or you have a Flexible Spending Account, both can be used to pay for eligible dental and vision expenses — cleanings, fillings, orthodontia, eye exams, glasses, and contacts all generally qualify. This is one of the most tax-efficient ways to cover routine dental and vision costs, since you’re paying with pre-tax dollars either way. For 2026, HSA limits are $4,400 self-only and $8,750 family (rising to $4,500 and $9,000 in 2027), and the health FSA limit is $3,400. Our HSA guide for self-employed Floridians explains how to set one up.
What This Looks Like in Practice for Florida’s Self-Employed
Here’s how I typically walk clients through it: if you have a family and expect routine cleanings plus the occasional filling, a standalone marketplace dental plan in the $25–$40/month range is often worth it once you factor in two adults’ worth of preventive visits. If you’re single, healthy, and rarely go to the dentist beyond a yearly cleaning, a discount dental plan at $10–$20/month may save you more than a full insurance plan would, especially while you’re waiting out a major-work waiting period. For vision, if anyone in your household wears glasses or contacts, a standalone vision plan almost always pencils out in your favor given the frame and lens allowances.
Families adding coverage for kids and spouses can also read how to add dental and vision to your family’s plan, and our supplemental products page lists the add-ons we offer.
- Standalone dental via healthcare.gov: roughly $15–$50/month, no subsidy eligible, waiting periods apply to major work
- Standalone vision via healthcare.gov or direct carriers (VSP, EyeMed, Davis Vision): roughly $10–$25/month
- Discount dental plans: roughly $8–$25/month, no waiting periods, discounted rates instead of claims
- Community health centers and dental school clinics: sliding-scale fees based on income
- FSA/HSA funds: pre-tax dollars for eligible dental and vision expenses
Every self-employed household in Volusia County, Orange County, or anywhere else in Florida has a slightly different mix of needs, budget, and risk tolerance, and picking the right combination of dental, vision, and medical coverage is exactly the kind of decision where an independent broker earns their keep — at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ACA health insurance include dental for adults?
No. Adult dental and adult vision are not Essential Health Benefits, so ACA medical plans generally don’t include them. Pediatric dental and vision for children under 19 are required benefits. Adults usually buy standalone dental and vision plans on HealthCare.gov or directly from carriers.
Do subsidies lower the cost of standalone dental plans?
No. Premium tax credits apply only to your medical plan premium. A standalone dental plan bought on HealthCare.gov is paid in full regardless of your income, so compare its premium, annual maximum, deductible, and waiting periods on their own merits.
Is a discount dental plan the same as dental insurance?
No. A discount dental plan is a membership that gives you reduced rates at participating dentists. There’s no annual maximum, waiting period, or claims process, but the plan doesn’t pay your bills — you pay the discounted price. It can work well for routine care or while waiting out insurance waiting periods.
Can I use my HSA for dental and vision expenses?
Yes. HSA funds can pay for qualified dental and vision expenses such as cleanings, fillings, orthodontia, eye exams, glasses, and contacts. For 2026 the HSA limit is $4,400 self-only or $8,750 family, rising to $4,500 and $9,000 for 2027, with a $1,000 catch-up at age 55.
If you want help comparing standalone dental and vision options alongside your ACA medical plan for 2027, we’ll build a coverage package that fits how you actually use care, not just what sounds good on paper. Call or text Michael McAllister at 321-230-9536 — he is the owner of Choice Health Insurance Brokers in DeLand, a licensed broker appointed with 200 carriers (NPN 18229135) — or visit choice.healthcare to get started. There is no cost to work with us.