On Tuesday, November 8, Massachusetts voters scored a major victory for dental patients and their families. Massachusetts Ballot Question 2 — requiring most of the premium dollars collected by dental insurers to be spent on actual dental care —passed overwhelmingly with 70 percent of the vote.This decisive landmark victory means better dental benefits and better access to dental care for patients. More families will be empowered to seek the dental care they need.
The passage of Question 2 ensures dental insurance premiums paid by Massachusetts patients ultimately go to the actual care they receive, rather than to insurers’ bottom line. If dental insurance companies spend less than 83 percent of patient premiums on real 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.
Published November 15, 2022