The Biden administration finalized a rule last month allowing states to mandate that most individual and small-group health plans, including those for sale on Obamacare‘s exchanges, cover adult dental services.
Mandating coverage of dental benefits may be politically appealing. But it will end up leaving a bitter taste in people’s mouths. Mandates cost money. Implementing this one would incrementally increase the cost of coverage to the detriment of beneficiaries and taxpayers alike.
If states require insurers to cover dental care, then health plans will simply raise premiums to cover the additional cost of providing that care. Enrollees may not notice since the vast majority of them receive generous taxpayer subsidies to help cover their premiums.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.
Mandating dental coverage will drive up the cost of insurance
Sally C. Pipes
The Biden administration finalized a rule last month allowing states to mandate that most individual and small-group health plans, including those for sale on Obamacare‘s exchanges, cover adult dental services.
Mandating coverage of dental benefits may be politically appealing. But it will end up leaving a bitter taste in people’s mouths. Mandates cost money. Implementing this one would incrementally increase the cost of coverage to the detriment of beneficiaries and taxpayers alike.
If states require insurers to cover dental care, then health plans will simply raise premiums to cover the additional cost of providing that care. Enrollees may not notice since the vast majority of them receive generous taxpayer subsidies to help cover their premiums.
Click to read the full article in the Washington Examiner.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.