Sponsors (12)
The bill increases access and consumer choice by letting people buy standalone dental plans on the Exchange without a qualified health plan, but that flexibility risks adverse selection and reduced cross-subsidization that could raise premiums or shift costs to taxpayers.
Uninsured individuals and people who want only dental coverage (for example, low-income adults or those with specific/chronic dental needs) can enroll in Exchange-offered standalone dental plans without buying a qualified health plan, increasing access to dental care and consumer choice.
State exchanges and dental insurers may see increased participation in dental plan offerings, broadening risk pools for dental coverage which could help stabilize or moderate dental premiums.
Taxpayers and buyers of comprehensive health plans could face higher costs because allowing standalone dental enrollment without a QHP may reduce cross-subsidization, potentially raising comprehensive-plan premiums or shifting costs to taxpayers.
Uninsured individuals and current dental plan enrollees may face higher dental premiums over time because standalone dental offerings could attract higher-risk enrollees (adverse selection), pushing up costs for those plans.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows people to enroll in Exchange-offered standalone dental plans even if they are not enrolled in an Exchange-qualified health plan.
Prohibits the federal health official from blocking people from signing up for standalone dental plans sold through the health Insurance Marketplace just because they do not also have a Marketplace-qualified health plan. The change keeps standalone dental plan enrollment open to individuals who only want dental coverage, without creating new funding or programs.
Introduced March 27, 2025 by Margaret Wood Hassan · Last progress March 27, 2025