Lawmakers introduce 3 bills to expand dental coverage under Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP: 6 notes

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., and Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., have introduced three bills to expand dental coverage for individuals enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP. 

Six notes:

1. The Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2026 would make adult dental care a mandatory Medicaid benefit with full federal funding for the first three years, according to a July 22 news release. 
2. The Medicaid Dental Benefit Act comes after the enactment of H.R. 1, which has placed additional pressure on state Medicaid budgets and could lead to optional dental benefits, such as adult coverage, being reduced or eliminated.
3. The second bill, the Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2026, would add routine, basic, major and emergency dental coverage to Medicare Part B. 
4. About half of all Medicare beneficiaries currently lack dental coverage, according to the news release.
5. The Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act would ban lifetime and annual dollar limits on CHIP dental benefits and require dental-only wraparound coverage for certain children.
6. The bills have been endorsed by several organizations, including the ADA, Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and National Dental Association.

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