Massachusetts Ballot Question 2 Passed

The Florida Dental Association (FDA) is pleased to share excellent news about a major victory for dental patients and their families in Massachusetts. Massachusetts Ballot Question 2 — requiring most of the premium dollars collected by dental insurers to be spent on actual dental care — has passed overwhelmingly with 71% of the vote.

This decisive landmark victory means better dental benefits and better access to dental care for patients, period. It also means more families will be empowered to seek the dental care they need. The FDA contributed $50,000 to the campaign; the American Dental Association (ADA), other state dental associations, dental specialty groups and individual dentists also contributed.

The passage of Question 2 ensures that what patients in Massachusetts pay in premiums ultimately goes to the actual care they receive, rather than to insurers’ bottom line. If dental insurance companies spend less than 83% of patient premiums on actual dental care, they must refund the difference to covered individuals and groups. This sets an important precedent for dental care providers and their patients across the country. Despite dental insurers spending millions to defeat Question 2, ultimately voters considered the facts and supported these important consumer protections for dental patients and their families.

The ADA now hopes to work toward bringing these important reforms in dental insurance to other states throughout the country. There is momentum and now is the time for dental care providers and their patients, as well as health care and consumer advocates across the nation, to work together to ensure that these important protections are implemented for dental patients and their families in every state.

The ADA is always a resource for dental providers in advocating for important insurance reforms to benefit dental patients and their families as well as the future generation of dental care providers to ensure better access to dental benefits and oral health care for

everyone.

This decisive landmark victory means better dental benefits and better access to dental care for patients, period. It also means more families will be empowered to seek the dental care they need.