Massachusetts becomes first state to enforce dental loss ratio standards

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Massachusetts is requiring dental insurance companies to provide rebates to consumers for failing to meet dental loss ratio standards.

Six dental insurance companies — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Guardian Life Insurance Company, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Insurance Company, Reliance Standard Insurance Company, Standard Insurance Company, and Starmount Life Insurance Company — will return $8.4 million to consumers enrolled in their dental plans, according to an Aug. 7 news release from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

In 2022, the state enacted a law establishing a dental loss ratio. Under the law, dental insurers must spend at least 83% of premium dollars on dental services or refund the difference to consumers. 

Massachusetts is the first state to require and enforce dental insurance rebates. The rebates are issued as a check or as a credit toward future premium payments, the release said.

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