AB 1629 will protect patients from paying upfront for covered dental care by requiring dental insurers to pay dentists directly, eliminating the need for patients to pay out-of-pocket and seek reimbursement.
SACRAMENTO, CA — A bill to expand dental care affordability passed the legislature and now heads to the Governor’s desk with a vote of 30-0.
AB 1629 would protect patients from being forced to pay the full cost of covered dental care upfront and then wait to be reimbursed by their insurance company. When a patient authorizes their insurance benefits to be paid directly to their dentist, the bill would require the insurer to honor that request, including when the dentist is outside the insurer’s network. That means patients can get the care they need without worrying that they could be stuck with a large upfront bill simply because of how their insurance company processes the payment. The bill would also improve transparency around coverage and require regulators to evaluate whether dental insurance networks have enough participating dentists to meet patient demand.
“California has spent years trying to rebuild dental access, and we should not turn around and make it harder for people to get care,” Haney said. “Families who rely on Medi-Cal should not lose ground, and families who pay for private dental coverage should not be forced to act like a bank for their insurance company just to see a dentist. If you pay for coverage, you should be able to use it.”
Dental advocates warn that reducing access to preventive care often leads to more expensive health complications and emergency treatment down the road, increasing costs for both patients and the health care system.
“With the health care system facing enormous threats and challenges, this is a time California should be showing leadership in protecting health care access for our most vulnerable. We must not abandon them,” said Dr. Robert Hanlon, President of the California Dental Association. “The California Dental Association is proud to be partnering with Assemblymember Haney and the Save Our Dental Care coalition members to stand up and say dental care is essential, not an optional ‘nice-to-have.’”
“Dental care is health care,” Haney said. “California cannot say it is expanding access while allowing dental coverage to become harder to use and harder to find. We need to protect the progress we have made and put patients first.”
The bill now sits on the Governor’s desk awaiting a signature.
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