CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – West Virginia dentists are urging lawmakers to advance patient-focused legislation aimed at fixing a problem families know well: paying for dental insurance that often delays, denies, or complicates access to care. As lawmakers return to Charleston, the West Virginia Dental Association has launched the More for Your Smile campaign to support legislation that brings transparency and accountability to dental insurance spending and helps ensure that more premium dollars are used for patient care.
The Current Situation: Coverage That Does Not Deliver Care
West Virginians pay monthly premiums for dental insurance with the reasonable expectation that coverage will help them access timely care. That expectation is not always met. Many patients face delays, denials, and coverage limits that restrict treatment, even when care is recommended by their dentist.
The West Virginia Office of the Insurance Commissioner collects data on how dental insurance premiums are spent, but that information is not easily accessible or presented in a clear way. As a result, patients, employers, and policymakers have limited ability to see how much of their premium dollars support patient care versus administrative costs.
Current law does not set a minimum standard for how dental insurance premiums must be spent. In West Virginia, as much as 40 percent of premiums may be used for administrative costs and overhead rather than dental treatment, even as patients continue to encounter barriers to care.
What This Means for Patients
“When dental care is delayed or denied, problems don’t stay small. Patients end up in pain, paying more out of pocket, or skipping care altogether, even though they’re paying for coverage every month. That’s why the West Virginia Dental Association is stepping forward with patients to push for a system that puts care first,” said Dr. Jay Boyd, incoming president of the West Virginia Dental Association.
For dentists entering the profession, the gap between expectations and reality is clear.
“I chose dentistry because I wanted to help patients stay healthy and get the care they need. Early in my career, I started seeing how insurance barriers can slow down or block treatment, even when patients are ready to move forward. Being part of this effort is about standing up for patients and helping build a system that supports care, not confusion,” said Dr. Savannah Bryner, a practicing dentist in West Virginia.
The Solution: Transparency, Accountability, and More Value
The More for Your Smile legislation establishes clear reporting standards for dental insurance spending and sets a basic consumer protection requiring that at least 85 percent of premium dollars be spent on patient care. If that standard is not met, the difference would be returned to policyholders in the form of refunds. The proposal does not change dental benefits, raise premiums, or dictate insurer operations. Instead, it increases transparency and helps ensure dental coverage delivers value to patients and employers.
“The West Virginia Dental Association represents dentists across the state who care for patients every day and see these challenges firsthand. The More for Your Smile campaign is about bringing patients, providers, and lawmakers together around a simple goal: more transparency, more accountability, and more value from dental insurance,” said Hallie Mason, executive director of the West Virginia Dental Association.
A Call to Lawmakers and Patients
WVDA is urging lawmakers to advance the More for Your Smile legislation during the current session as a practical, patient-focused reform. West Virginians can learn more and contact their lawmakers by visiting www.MoreForYourSmileWV.com, where they can use a simple online tool to support dental coverage that works.
