News

Dental Plans Leaders Take Tax and Market Concerns to the Hill

Mar 21, 2018

NADP Members urge Congressional Leaders to Continue Tax Incentives and Stabilize Dental Coverage on Public Insurance Marketplaces

Washington, D.C. – National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) members will urge Congressional leaders to extend the moratorium on the Health Insurance Tax (HIT); maintain tax incentives on employer-sponsored dental plans and decouple the purchase of dental and medical coverage in the marketplaces, during its 2018 Congressional industry fly-in, “NADP Advocacy in Action,” March 21-22, in the nation’s Capital.

“As the voice of the dental benefits industry, advocating for improved consumer access to affordable dental care is the mission of NADP,” said Board Chair Theresa McConeghey of Principal. “We commend our members for their participation in the democratic process and representation of our industry.”

In face-to-face meetings with Members of Congress, NADP members will seek an extension of the Health Insurance Tax moratorium through 2020. A 2-percent fee would have a significant impact on the affordability of dental coverage as average annual change in premiums over the last five years range from plus 1.5 percent to negative .9 percent. Because 93 percent of Americans receive dental coverage through their work, NADP will also seek continued bi-partisan support for the tax exclusion for employer-sponsored health and dental benefits.

In addition, NADP will seek assistance from Congress to decouple the purchase of dental and medical coverage on public marketplaces. Currently, consumers must purchase medical coverage in order to buy dental coverage. In many cases when consumers drop or change medical coverage, their dental coverage is also discontinued even though it was not their intention. NADP is asking for Congress’s support in seeking a technical solution to this dilemma.

NADP will also offer to serve as a resource regarding dental benefits in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The association also will thank elected officials for approving CHIP funding for 10 more years.

Advocacy in Action attendees will provide detailed documentation of the issues at the conclusion of their face-to-face meetings, and NADP will follow-up with policymakers throughout the year. These materials are also available on NADP’s website at www.nadp.org.

About NADP

National Association of Dental Plans (NADP), a Texas nonprofit corporation with headquarters in Dallas, Texas, is the representative and recognized resource of the dental benefits industry. NADP is the only national trade organization that includes the full spectrum of dental benefits companies operating in the United States. NADP’s members provide Dental HMO, Dental PPO, Dental Indemnity and Discount Dental products to more 195 million Americans.

AIA Participants:


Jeff Album Delta Dental of CA, NY, PA & Affiliates
Stacia Almquist Sun Life Financial
Eme Augustini NADP
Artur Bagyants NADP
Jerry Berggren NADP
Stephanie Berry Delta Dental of CA, NY, PA & Affiliates
Rene Chapin NADP
Dr. Mary Lee Conicella, DMD, FAGD Aetna Dental
Mike Davis Dominion National
Bethany Dougherty Life & Specialty Ventures
Brooke Ellis Solstice Benefits
Dana Faust Delta Dental of MO
Greta Flam Guardian
Alissa Gavrilescu Solstice Benefits
Suzanne Heckenlaible Delta Dental of IA
Jeremy Hedrick Careington International
Alisha Hightower Guardian
Donna Hunter United Concordia
Evelyn Ireland, CAE NADP
Richard Jones Guardian
Bernard LaPine Highmark
Kristin LaRoche DentaQuest
Michael Lewan The Michael Lewan Company
Gina Magee Lincoln Financial Group
Amy Marko Starmount Life
Amanda Martin Dominion National
Devin McBrayer Delta Dental of CA, NY, PA & Affiliates
Theresa McConeghey Principal
Kate McCown Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
Crystal McElroy MetLife
Brian Monsen Avesis Third Party Admin. Inc.
Dr. Lynn Mouden, DDS, MPH Avesis Third Party Admin. Inc.
Joshua Nace Dental Health Services of America
Shalyn Pavolillo Highmark
Chris Payne Principal
Bradley Peak Sun Life Financial
Gary Pickard Pacific Dental Services
Jon Renfrew Guardian
Richard Schlauch Dominion National
Jeff Schwab Dominion National
James Slotnick Sun Life Financial
Irica Solomon MetLife
Chris Swanker, FSA, MAAA Guardian
Brad Terry Dominion National
Mike Trebold Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
Kris Virgin Careington International
Donald Wilhoite Life & Specialty Ventures
Sue Wright Lincoln Financial Group
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