A number of states have enforced, enacted and introduced dental loss ratio legislation this year, with dentists in a handful of additional states advocating for the change.
Here are six updates on dental loss ratio, as reported by Becker’s so far in 2026:
1.Massachusetts became the first state to enforce dental loss ratio standards, requiring six dental insurance companies to return $8.4 million to consumers enrolled in their dental plan.
2.Mississippi enacted a dental loss ratio reporting law requiring insurers to disclose the percentage of premium dollars spent on patient care.
3.The New York State Dental Association advocated for the state to create a dental loss ratio for dental insurers.
4.The Idaho Legislature introduced a bill that would require dental healthcare service plans to report their dental loss ratios.
5.A coalition of dentists urged the Alabama Legislature to pass matching bills establishing a dental loss ratio in the state.
6.A West Virginia lawmaker introduced a bill that includes the establishment of a dental loss ratio in the state.