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: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Target Audience
Population: People who are seeking or require dental insurance coverage outside of health insurance plans
Estimated Size: 74000000
- Globally, the general population who may be interested or eligible to purchase dental insurance separate from health insurance will be impacted.
- The act potentially increases access and affordability of dental care by allowing standalone dental plan purchases on exchanges.
- People without any dental coverage currently may opt into these standalone plans to afford dental care.
- Individuals in regions with developed health insurance exchanges and dental benefit markets will be more directly impacted.
Reasoning
- The target population is large, but the policy will primarily focus on those who currently do not have dental insurance and would benefit from standalone plans. Given the estimated 74 million uninsured in the U.S., a proportion will migrate to the new offerings, especially those in urban or semi-urban areas where exchanges are more accessible.
- Budget constraints mean not everyone can be immediately served. Initial expansion may mostly assist middle-income families who can afford some insurance but find bundled plans too costly.
- People in areas with robust exchange platforms may find the transition smoother, leading to higher policy impact. Rural and underserved areas might experience delayed benefits due to less streamlined access.
Simulated Interviews
Freelance Graphic Designer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I couldn't afford the bundled health and dental plan, so I went without dental coverage.
- This policy seems great because I can finally get just dental coverage and take care of my teeth regularly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Construction Worker (Dallas, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's tough to afford dental care for my whole family without proper dental insurance.
- Being able to get dental insurance separately could be a huge relief.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Nurse (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have health insurance through work, but dental is too costly as an add-on.
- This will give me access to affordable dental care without impacting my health insurance benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired Farmer (Rural Kansas)
Age: 56 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Dental issues are expensive, and it's hard to find coverage out here.
- If this policy makes dental insurance accessible and affordable, it’ll be very beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Teacher (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I always worry about my kids' dental check-ups and really want to have proper coverage.
- Being able to purchase dental insurance only would be a huge help for budgeting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Graduate Student (New York, NY)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Dental care is important, but as a student, I have to compromise and skip it.
- A separate, affordable dental insurance plan would mean a lot.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Data Analyst (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We decided not to take dental with our health insurance because it was too expensive.
- Having the option to get dental separately could save us money and stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Unemployed (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm on a tight budget, and dental costs are too high without insurance.
- A policy that offers a separate dental insurance option would be invaluable as I manage my expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Tech Entrepreneur (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I always opt for the fullest coverage insurance I can get, including dental.
- This policy doesn't affect me much since I can afford comprehensive plans already.
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 |
Retail Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I can't afford dental work on my part-time salary and lack of benefits.
- Affordable dental insurance would significantly improve my situation and health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $260000000 (Low: $210000000, High: $310000000)
Year 3: $270000000 (Low: $220000000, High: $320000000)
Year 5: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 10: $350000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $400000000)
Year 100: $2000000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $2500000000)
Key Considerations
- Insurance exchanges will require updates to manage standalone dental plans, potentially incurring significant initial IT and administrative costs.
- There is an expected increase in dental service utilization as more people obtain dental coverage, potentially resulting in a temporary healthcare cost increase.
- The measure could improve public health through increased access to preventative dental care, ultimately reducing other medical costs.
- Understanding and addressing any potential adverse selection or skewing in insurance markets as standalone dental plans separate from combined health/dental plans needs consideration.