California regulators are going after dental health plans that claim to offer big benefits but deliver very little.
There have been over 150 consumer complaints in California about these plans over the last four years. Though the state requires discount dental plans to be licensed, enforcement has been spotty. The state is now seeking new licensing requirements.
It is estimated that some 6 million Californians have a discount health or dental plan. Some of these discount dental plans have advertised themselves as dental insurance rather than just a discount plan.
Several years ago, California ordered Care Entrée to stop offering dental coverage in the state. Though members were promised unrestricted access to providers, the state found that claim “illusory.” The state also found that the company’s advertising implied they were offering an affordable dental insurance product.
As a dentist, I’m sure you understand dental insurance… but clearly a lot of consumers don’t!
Read more: California cracks down on discount health plans