Bill Overview
Title: Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act
Description: This bill permits individuals to enroll in a dental benefits plan on a health insurance exchange without also enrolling in a qualified health plan.
Sponsors: Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals potentially seeking standalone dental insurance plans
Estimated Size: 30000000
- The bill targets individuals who seek dental insurance coverage but do not want or need to enroll in a full healthcare plan.
- Globally, dental insurance is less common than general health insurance, suggesting a significant potential market of people focused solely on dental benefits.
- World Bank data suggest that approximately 3.5 billion people globally suffer from oral diseases, representing potential dental care needs.
- Accessibility to dental insurance is low in many developing countries, but in developed countries, interest in dental-specific insurance is growing.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily targets individuals who currently lack dental insurance but could benefit from the separation of dental and health insurance plans. This group may include low to middle-income individuals, freelancers, part-time workers, and retirees, who often face difficulties accessing standalone dental plans.
- The budget constraints imply that the policy will need to focus on making a significant impact on a subset of the 30,000,000 target individuals. Assuming a modest uptake, we might expect 10-15% of these 30 million to explore or enroll in a standalone dental plan when given the option. This projection is based on the affordability and perceived value of dental coverage when separated from full health insurance plans.
- Not everyone will experience an immediate and dramatic improvement in self-reported wellbeing, as dental insurance primarily prevents future expenses and discomfort rather than offering immediate benefits. However, individuals with current dental needs or financial concerns about potential dental costs are likely to show improvement in wellbeing scores.
Simulated Interviews
freelance graphic designer (Austin, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often skip dental visits because it's too expensive without insurance.
- I would definitely enroll if I could just get dental coverage without a whole health plan.
- This policy would make it much easier for people like me to manage costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
part-time retail worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Dental insurance is something I've always wanted, but couldn't afford outright.
- Being able to access it without tying to health insurance is a blessing.
- Hope it brings down my costs for dental visits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
software engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 33 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have decent coverage but ironically no dental.
- This policy doesn't change much for me since I can afford dental care.
- But I see the potential benefit for others who can't.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
retired teacher (Miami, FL)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Since retiring, dental costs have been rising and harder to manage.
- I definitely would benefit from this added flexibility.
- Hope I can catch some issues earlier and avoid large bills.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
PhD student (Boston, MA)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Dental coverage would definitely save me from financial strain.
- A standalone plan would be perfect since I already have good health coverage through my school.
- This is something I'd consider deeply.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
construction worker (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I really need dental insurance, budgets are tight.
- Hope this policy covers more people like me who can't even afford health insurance.
- It'd be a huge relief.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
small business owner (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I suppose separating plans could reduce overhead costs.
- It seems pragmatic for smaller businesses and personal budgets.
- Even if my wellbeing score won't change much, it's still a good move.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
non-profit worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My current job doesn't afford me the luxury of proper dental insurance.
- Separate dental enrollment makes total sense for my situation.
- I'd expect better peace of mind with reduced cost impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
barista (Portland, OR)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 18.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that helps me get dental coverage would greatly improve my life.
- It's been an ongoing concern for unexpected issues.
- I'd be much more relaxed if this could happen.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
truck driver (Las Vegas, NV)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Trying to balance costs with a family portfolio under one roof isn't easy.
- I'd hope this policy offers us a break or a way forward.
- Dental bills are adding stress to an already tight budget.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $450000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $550000000)
Year 3: $400000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $500000000)
Year 5: $350000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $450000000)
Year 10: $300000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $400000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $150000000)
Key Considerations
- The extent of individual adoption for standalone dental insurance plans is uncertain.
- There are potential offsets from reduced health complications due to better dental care coverage.
- Coordination with existing health insurance exchange mechanisms will be essential for smooth implementation.