Opinion: Insurers should pay fair share of dental care
There are a disproportionate amount of dental expenses paid out-of-pocket compared to other health care services, writes state Sen. Joseph McNamara.
To address this, state Sen. Hanna Gallo and Rep. McNamara, have introduced the Rhode Island Fair Share for Dental Care Act. This legislation aims to ensure that 85% of dental insurance premiums are spent on actual dental care, similar to regulations for medical insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
"The American Dental Association says that 45.1% of all dental care comes from out-of-pocket expenses," Rep. McNamara wrote. "The same figure for total health spending is 16.6%. While medical insurers are required by federal law to dedicate a specific percentage of their premiums to patient care, there is no similar consumer protection for dental insurance carriers."
In 2022, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot initiative requiring dental insurance carriers to spend at least 83% of their premiums on patient care rather than on administrative costs, salaries and profits. Carriers that do not meet this minimum standard would have to refund the difference to covered individuals and groups.
"The implementation of this law in Massachusetts, combined with the difficulty that Rhode Island is having in attracting new dentists, could create the perfect storm for dental care in our state," Rep. McNamara wrote.
Read more: Cranston Herald
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