BOSTON (WWLP) — In November, voters will be asked to decide on ballot initiatives alongside voting for elected officials.
Massachusetts is known for being a state of firsts, and Question 2 could make the state the first to regulate dental insurance premiums. There is a lot of information to sink your teeth into regarding question 2.
The intent of the polling question is to set a spending limit for dental insurance. This would require dental insurers to spend at least 83% of the premiums they collect on your dental care, not on administrative costs. It would also require insurers to refund any excess premium to the customer.
Proponents point to the Affordable Care Act, which requires a medical insurance loss ratio.
“It helps protect against large increases in dental premiums, it puts patient profits, patients before profits, and it ensures their patients’ money is being spent on patient care and it increases transparency, it is enormous. People need to know how their money is being spent.
Opponents believe this will end up hurting patients’ pockets. They believe that, if passed, it will increase costs and reduce choice for patients.
No on 2 also argues that this change could cause companies to change their dental coverage and could result in the complete loss of access to people.
The Committee to Protect Access to Quality Dental Care shared in a statement, “Issue 2 is an anti-consumer proposal that will increase costs for Massachusetts families and employers and may result in the denial of thousands of of residents access to essential dental care.”
A “no” vote would make no change to the current law.
Massachusetts Ballot
- Representative in Congress
- Governor
- Lieutenant Governor
- Attorney General
- Secretary of State
- State Treasurer
- State Auditor
- Governor’s Council
- State Senator
- State representative
- District Attorney
- Sheriff
- County Commissioner (only in some counties)
- Statewide Voting Questions
- Ballots in some counties and communities may have local offices and additional questions.
General elections take place on Tuesday 8 November.
