New York State dentists push for changes to improve dental insurance

ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) — The New York State Dental Association is pushing for changes to make dental insurance work better for patients.

The group is advocating for a “dental loss ratio,” similar to the medical loss ratio required under the Affordable Care Act. That rule requires health insurers to spend a set percentage of premiums on actual medical care rather than administrative costs and profit.

“There’s no such thing in dentistry,” said NYSDA Executive Director Michael Herrmann.

The association is supporting a bill that would require insurance companies to report how much they currently spend. Depending on that data, the group may later push for a mandated percentage that must be spent on patient dental care.

Several other states have already adopted similar dental loss ratio laws.