Dental Coverage for Richmond County Families
Augusta's two anchors — Augusta University Medical Center and Fort Gordon (now Fort Eisenhower) — define Richmond County's economy alongside the Masters Golf Tournament, creating a mix of healthcare workers, military personnel, and hospitality staff with varying dental benefit access.
For a family, the rules differ for the kids and the parents. Under the ACA, dental care is an essential health benefit for children but not for adults. Richmond County residents shop for health plans on Georgia Access, and adult dental still has to be bought separately.
Adult Dental vs. Pediatric Dental in Richmond County
Dental care is an essential health benefit for children, so with Marketplace coverage, dental must be available for anyone 18 or younger, either in the health plan or as a separate dental plan. Parents get no such guarantee. Check what your Georgia Access plan already includes for the children before you buy a separate plan for them.
A family dental plan covers each enrolled person under one policy, with the same preventive, basic and major classes of care as an individual plan. Deductibles usually apply per person with a family cap: $50 a person up to $150 a family on SecureDental PLUS.
Choosing a Family Dental Plan in Richmond County
The only reliable network check is the plan’s own provider directory, followed by a call to the office. Dental practices in Richmond County move in and out of networks, so do it before you enroll rather than after.
Orthodontia is where family plans differ most. Many exclude braces or cover them only on higher tiers; SecureDental PLUS covers orthodontia only on its Premium tier, at 70% after a 12-month wait, up to $500 a year and $1,500 lifetime.
Check waiting periods before you buy. HealthCare.gov notes that separate dental plans can have waiting periods before they cover services for adults; on SecureDental PLUS, basic care waits 1 month and major care and orthodontia 12 months, while cleanings have no wait.
A dental plan pays dentists, not emergency rooms. If a tooth infection or a facial injury takes you to an emergency department, that bill goes to your health insurance. Medicare’s hospital directory lists 3 hospitals with emergency services in Richmond County, including Doctors Hospital, Piedmont Augusta Hospital and Wellstar McG Health, Affiliated With Med Col.
Call (713) 575-9904 and Daniel will send the dental plans sold in Richmond County and check your family’s providers against each network.