West Virginia Pushes for Fairer Dental Insurance With New Campaign
The West Virginia Dental Association has launched the “More for Your Smile West Virginia” campaign urging lawmakers to pass a dental loss ratio law that would ensure patient premiums are directed toward care rather than administrative costs. If successful, the measure could transform access to oral healthcare in a state that currently ranks among the nation’s lowest for dental health.
The West Virginia Dental Association (WVDA) has introduced its “More for Your Smile West Virginia” campaign, a statewide effort calling for reform of dental insurance practices through the passage of a dental loss ratio (DLR) law. The proposal would require insurers to allocate at least 85% of premium dollars directly to patient care, with refunds issued to policyholders if the threshold is not met.
For decades, dental benefits have remained largely unchanged, with most plans capping annual coverage at $1,000 to $1,500, a figure that has not kept pace with inflation since the 1970s. As a result, patients and providers alike are increasingly frustrated with insufficient benefits that do not reflect the realities of modern dental care costs. Employers paying into plans also question the value of premiums when significant portions of funds are directed toward executive salaries, corporate profits, and administrative overhead. Massachusetts, Nevada, Colorado, North Dakota, Montana, Louisiana, and Rhode Island have passed similar laws. Click here to read more.
