7.) What is the transitional period granted by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and will I be able to extend my current non-EHB-compliant coverage?
In order to ease the transition for small groups and individuals converting to EHB-compliant coverage, CMS granted a “transitional period” on November 14, 2013, whereby nongrandfathered plans in the small group and individual market could continue to renew their existing non-EHB-compliant coverage so long as certain conditions were met. CMS has since extended this transitional period to include policies that were renewed prior to October 1, 2018, so long as those policies have an end date of December 31, 2018. States were not required to adopt the transitional period and in many instances, the decision to adopt the transitional period was left to the medical carriers. You will therefore need to check with your medical carrier on when your medical plan will be transitioning to ACA-compliant coverage.
When your medical carrier does make the transition to ACA-compliant coverage, that coverage will need to include pediatric dental benefits. It is important to note, however, that you will still be able to purchase pediatric dental benefits from a stand-alone dental carrier like Delta Dental and pair that dental coverage with medical coverage offered by a medical plan to fulfill all 10 EHB coverage requirements.