Dentists Call for legislation to hold insurers accountable, ensuring transparency and better care for patients
West Virginia Press Association
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia dentists are calling for new legislation to make dental coverage fairer, clearer, and more accountable for patients in the state. Through the More for Your Smile campaign, the West Virginia Dental Association is urging lawmakers to ensure patient premiums are spent on care, not profits, and to address the state’s ranking of 49th in the nation for dental health.
“As a dentist, I see firsthand how current insurance policies make it harder for patients to get the care they need,” said Dr. Michael Richardson of South Hills, WV. “Too many families pay their premiums every month but are left with limited coverage, higher costs, or delayed treatment. More for Your Smile is about changing that. It is about holding insurers accountable, making dental coverage clearer and fairer, and ensuring that more of every premium dollar goes toward cleanings, fillings, and preventive care. Patients deserve real value from their insurance and the peace of mind that the benefits they pay for will be there when they need them.”
West Virginia ranks 49th out of 51 states and D.C. for dental health. The state has some of the highest rates of tooth loss and untreated decay and only 48.7 dentists per 100,000 residents compared to more than 60 nationwide. Families and employers pay premiums every month, but too often those dollars do not reach patient care. Instead, as much as 40 percent of premium dollars are spent on executive salaries, corporate profits, bonuses, and administrative costs, not on treatment. While compensation and profits continue to rise for dental insurance executives, patients are left with insufficient coverage and higher costs.
“Dentists across West Virginia see every day how gaps in dental coverage hurt patients and communities,” said Hallie Mason, Executive Director of the West Virginia Dental Association. “Our members are united in working for a fairer, more accountable system that puts patients first. Through the More for Your Smile campaign, WVDA is fighting to make sure insurance dollars go where they belong, toward the care patients need and deserve.”
How This Reform Would Work
The proposal would establish a Dental Loss Ratio (DLR), requiring dental insurers to allocate at least 85 percent of premium dollars to patient care. If insurers fail to meet this standard, they must refund the difference to policyholders.
Key provisions include:
- More Transparency: Insurers must disclose how premium dollars are spent. Currently in West Virginia, DLR figures are buried in lengthy, poorly labeled reports that are difficult for the public to find or understand. Clear and accessible reporting standards would help everyone see whether coverage is working the way it should.
- More Accountability: Health insurance companies already have rules that require most premium dollars to pay for treatment and care. Dental benefit managers should meet the same standard.
- More Value for Patients: When dental benefit managers do not spend enough on patient care, people end up paying more out of pocket or delaying treatment. A Dental Loss Ratio law will ensure more of every premium dollar goes to patient care like cleanings, fillings, and preventive treatments so patients get the value they pay for.
Following recent legislative wins in states like Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and North Dakota, West Virginia’s More for Your Smile campaign joins a growing movement for dental insurance reform across the country. With over a dozen states pursuing similar efforts, these initiatives reflect a nationwide demand for greater accountability and transparency in dental insurance practices. WVDA’s leadership in this campaign underscores West Virginia’s commitment to joining the national push for patient-first policies.
The West Virginia Dental Association urges residents to contact their legislators and urge them to support the More for Your Smile bill for fairer, more transparent dental insurance. Every month without this law means more money goes to overhead and profits instead of care.
Visit MoreForYourSmileWV.com to sign the More for Your Smile petition and contact your legislator today.
About More for Your Smile West Virginia
More for Your Smile West Virginia is a patient-focused campaign to make dental coverage fairer, clearer, and more accountable. Led by the West Virginia Dental Association, a non-profit organization working to improve and protect the health of the public, the campaign is dedicated to enhancing the patient experience, breaking down barriers that keep people from getting proper oral health care, and supporting policies that put patients first.
By joining together, we can strengthen our profession, improve community health, and help every West Virginian get more value and better care. More for Your Smile is about making sure dental coverage works for you, because everyone deserves a healthy smile they can count on.
