Dental Coverage for the Self-Employed in El Paso County
Colorado Springs is the most military-concentrated city in the Mountain West, home to Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy, Peterson Space Force Base, and Schriever — while active-duty members have Tricare dental, veterans, retirees, and civilian contractors must purchase separate coverage.
No employer means no one else picks your dental plan. Health insurance and dental insurance are separate purchases for most adults, because adult dental isn’t an ACA essential health benefit. Whatever health plan you pick through Connect for Health Colorado, adult dental coverage is a separate decision in El Paso County.
What a Standalone Dental Plan Covers for El Paso County Freelancers
As a real example, SecureDental PLUS, one of the dental plans Daniel places, comes in three tiers paying basic care at 60%, 70% or 80% and major care at discount-only, 60% or 70%, with yearly maximums of $1,000, $1,500 or $2,000 and a choice of PPO networks. The dental insurance guide has the full table.
If you already need a crown, the waiting period matters more than the premium. HealthCare.gov notes that separate dental plans can have waiting periods for adults, and SecureDental PLUS, for example, waits 12 months for major care and 1 month for basic care.
Enrollment Options for Self-Employed Dental in El Paso County
In Colorado the Marketplace is Connect for Health Colorado, which offers dental plans next to its health plans during Open Enrollment and special enrollment periods. Off the Marketplace, a stand-alone dental plan isn’t tied to Open Enrollment at all. Enter your ZIP code in the form below and Daniel will send you the dental plans available where you live.
Price depends mainly on the tier and network; on SecureDental PLUS it doesn’t depend on age. One adult on its Premium tier with the National Options PPO 30 network was quoted $44.63 a month in Texas in August 2026, and lower tiers cost less. Where the plan is issued through its sponsoring association, a $7.95 monthly fee and a $10 one-time fee are added, and prices vary by state.
If you’re self-employed, dental premiums for yourself, a spouse and dependents generally count toward the self-employed health insurance deduction, which can’t exceed your business’s net profit, isn’t available for months you could join an employer-subsidized plan, and cuts income tax but not self-employment tax.
Know where the line sits: a dental plan covers care in a dentist’s chair, while an emergency department visit for a dental abscess or a jaw injury is a health insurance claim. In El Paso County, Medicare’s hospital directory shows four hospitals with emergency departments, among them Centura Health-Penrose St. Francis Health Services, St. Francis Hospital – Interquest and 2 others.
Call (713) 575-9904 and Daniel will price the dental plans available at your El Paso County ZIP code and check the network for you.