Overview
Title
To allow additional individuals to enroll in standalone dental plans offered through Federal Exchanges.
ELI5 AI
S. 1164 is a plan to make it easier for people to get dental insurance by allowing them to buy dental plans on their own, even if they don't have other health insurance through the same place. This means more people can get help taking care of their teeth!
Summary AI
S. 1164 is a bill introduced in the United States Senate that seeks to make standalone dental plans more accessible through Federal Exchanges. Specifically, it aims to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to prevent the Secretary of Health and Human Services from barring individuals from enrolling in standalone dental plans if they aren't also enrolled in a health insurance plan through the same Exchange. This legislation is intended to increase access to dental insurance for more people.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
The bill, titled the "Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act," was introduced in the United States Senate on March 27, 2025, by a bipartisan group of Senators. The primary goal of the bill is to expand access to standalone dental insurance plans through the Federal Exchanges established under the Affordable Care Act. It amends Section 1321 of the Affordable Care Act to ensure that individuals can enroll in a dental plan without being required to also enroll in a health insurance plan.
Significant Issues
A key issue with the bill is the potential ambiguity created by the amendment to the Affordable Care Act. The amendment does not clearly explain the implications or the specific purpose of allowing more individuals to enroll in standalone dental plans. This lack of clarity could lead to varying interpretations and applications of the new law.
Moreover, the technical language used in the amendment might pose understanding challenges for the general public. The bill references specific sections and subsections of the law, which could make it difficult for laypeople to fully comprehend the changes without additional detailed explanations.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, this bill could increase access to dental care for individuals who might not otherwise afford or require comprehensive health insurance. By decoupling dental plans from health plans, it allows individuals greater flexibility to choose the insurance that best fits their needs.
However, without clear guidelines on how the enrollment process will change and affect consumers and insurers, there might be confusion or unintended consequences. The bill does not describe how it plans to streamline the process for these standalone enrollments, which could affect consumer confidence in the system.
Impact on Stakeholders
The bill could positively impact consumers who only need dental coverage and do not require additional health insurance. It offers them the flexibility to choose more affordable options tailored to their specific needs, possibly leading to improved dental health outcomes.
On the other hand, insurance providers might face challenges. Insurers offering comprehensive plans may see a shift in consumer demand, affecting their plan offerings and financial model. Moreover, the legislative ambiguity might lead to administrative complexities that insurers and exchanges need to navigate, affecting the rollout and maintenance of new plan options.
Overall, while the intention of the bill seems to promote greater consumer choice and access to dental care, there are significant gaps in clarity and logistical execution that could impact its effectiveness and acceptance among stakeholders.
Issues
The amendment to Section 1321 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as described in Section 2 of the bill, lacks clarity on the implications or purpose of allowing additional individuals to enroll in standalone dental plans through Federal Exchanges. This could lead to ambiguity in how the law is interpreted and applied.
Section 2 does not provide detailed information on how the amendment might affect the enrollment process, particularly for individuals who wish to enroll only in standalone dental plans. The potential impacts on consumer choice and insurer participation are not addressed.
The language used in Section 2 is technical and references specific sections and subsections of the law, which might be difficult for the general public to understand without further explanation, potentially leading to misinformation or misunderstanding about the bill's effect on dental insurance accessibility.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill states the official short title, which is the “Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act.”
2. Standalone dental plans Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ensures that individuals can enroll in standalone dental insurance plans through a health insurance marketplace without needing to also enroll in a health insurance plan.