BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) — Defenders are in the final push to secure signatures for ballot questions.
The last batch of signatures was delivered today to secure the issue of dental insurance on the November ballot. Dentists, patients and election campaigners gathered outside today for a press conference. The ballot question seeks to enforce a spending limit on dental insurance.
The initiative, endorsed by the Massachusetts Dental Society, would require dental insurers to spend at least 83% of their dollars on “dental expenses and quality improvements,” instead of administrative expenses. This is similar to an existing health insurance rule, which was put in place by the Affordable Care Act.
Anyone with medical loss ratios below 83% should repay excess premiums.
If you’ve ever been to the dentist, even with insurance, and tried to get a crown or any type of major dental work, you know it can be difficult. And so the idea here is that it would improve that experience for patients
Dianne Morad, Dental Insurance Quality Committee
Dentists widely support the issue and today advocates have filed it as consumer protection law. Opponents believe this will end up harming patients.
The Committee for Protecting Access to Quality Dental Care issued this statement:
“With consumer prices reaching all-time highs, the Commonwealth does not need this additional regulation which will only increase costs and reduce patient choice statewide.”
Supporters of the issue submitted about 16,000 signatures in total.
This issue was challenged in court, but the Supreme Judicial Court found it acceptable to be placed on the ballot.
