MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – The Alabama Dental Association is launching a campaign to advocate for dental insurance reform legislation.
Alabama faces significant oral health challenges. The state ranks among the bottom five states for dental visits, according to state dental experts. Only 58% of adults visit the dentist annually and more than 15% of children suffer from tooth decay.
“These numbers highlight a troubling reality. Families across our state are struggling to access the quality care that they need,” said Michele Huebner, executive director of the Alabama Dental Association.
Huebner says one way they hope to improve dental care is with the launch of the More for Your Smile campaign, a coordinated effort to reform dental coverage.
“It is about creating transparency, accountability and fairness so patients get the care that they deserve,” she said.
Alabama joins more than a dozen other states pursuing medical loss ratio (MLR) legislation. The campaign says it will put patient care first , require 85% of premiums go to treatment, and increase benefits roll-over maximums.
“Up to 40% of premium dollars nationally go towards administrative costs, salaries, and corporate profits,” said Dr. Leigh Kent, chairperson of the More for Your Smile campaign. “Think about an older patient who needs a crown but is told their insurance won’t cover it because of insufficient funds. With MLR in place, more of their premium dollars would go towards care, reducing these barriers.”
Experts also think it would increase the number of dentists practicing here in Alabama. Officials say many students choose to leave the state because of lack of reimbursement.
“A new graduate could move less than two hours away and make double simply because the reimbursement rates are so much higher. It’s not a question of if we want to stay here, but rather if we can,” UAB School of Dentistry student Hannah Dailey.
The More for Your Smile campaign will engage patients in dentist offices and online to encourage their lawmakers to pass the legislation.
For more information about the campaign, visit the website or contact ALDA at moreforyoursmileAL@aldaonline.org.
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