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Dental coverage

Congress is close to improving oral health for those children without dental coverage today, but without a few small, significant changes, final health care reform legislation could actually disrupt dental coverage for millions of children who have it now.

The final legislation should allow for vigorous competition among insurance companies. Unfortunately, the House bill would force families to buy children's dental insurance from medical insurers -- without the option to purchase from more experienced and specialized dental plans. It would also force parents with family dental coverage today to purchase two dental plans -- one for their children and another for themselves.

Ultimately, the House bill would disrupt coverage for some 40 to 50 million children across the country.

On the other hand, the Senate bill allows for competition inside the new health insurance exchange but fails to assure it for those who currently have dental coverage. The final bill should also ensure choice for consumers who purchase dental plans, whether they do so through the exchange or in the commercial market.

With a few straightforward changes, the House and Senate can avoid disruptive, if unintentional, consequences -- and build on this nation's hard-won gains in improving oral health.

Walter Van Brunt
President and CEO, Delta Dental of New Jersey