20 dental insurance updates to know from Q3

From new pieces of legislation to states increasing their dental Medicaid budgets, here are 20 updates on the dental insurance industry that dentists and DSO leaders should know, as reported by Becker’s during the third quarter of 2026.

Note: This list is not exhaustive.

1. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1629, which requires dental plans to honor patients’ assignment of benefits requests and improves oversight of dental plan networks.
2. Dental insurance company United Concordia launched a new benefits package that shifts focus from treatment to prevention.
3. The American Dental Association urged Congress to strengthen oversight of dental insurance markets while ensuring that fraud prevention and competition policies do not impose unnecessary burdens on independent dental practices.
4. At least three states successfully advocated to push back against a recent change from Aetna that implemented a new administrative fee for out-of-network dentists who receive paper checks for claim payments.
5. The American Dental Association backed H.R. 1521, the bipartisan Dental and Optometric Care Access Act, which would limit insurers’ ability to set fees for dental services they do not cover.
6. Massachusetts is requiring dental insurance companies to provide rebates to consumers for failing to meet dental loss ratio standards, becoming the first state to enforce dental loss ratio legislation. 
7. The Academy of General Dentistry is supporting two federal bills that would expand access to dental care: The Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2026 and The Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act.
8. A new bill in Pennsylvania aims to expand dental insurance transparency by requiring dental insurers to legally stand behind the benefit quotes they give providers and patients.
9. About 23% of dentists have dropped out of insurance networks so far this year, according to a report from the American Dental Association.
10. MaineCare, the state Medicaid program in Maine, updated anesthesia reimbursement rates for dental providers.
11. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill that makes it easier for dentists to access their reimbursements without incurring additional fees.
12. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., and Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., introduced three bills to expand dental coverage for individuals enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP.
13. The Trump administration ramped up its efforts to address healthcare fraud in recent months, targeting a variety of healthcare organizations, including dental offices.
14. State lawmakers continued advancing dental insurance reforms in 2026, with 14 states enacting 21 laws so far in 2026.
15. A two-paragraph provision in North Carolina’s new state budget has left oral health advocates uncertain about its implications for Medicaid coverage of dental procedures performed at ASCs.
16. InsideDesk, an AI-powered revenue cycle management platform for DSOs, received $12.6 million in a recent financing round.
17. Principal Financial Group is set to acquire Beam Benefits, a provider of dental benefits that serves more than 25,000 small businesses.
18. Massachusetts legislators sent Gov. Maura Healey a new budget that includes a higher cap on Medicaid dental services than previously proposed.
19. Nevada expanded its dental coverage for adult Medicaid recipients.
20. A Washington dentist filed a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing Delta Dental of Washington of violating antitrust laws.