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We strongly supports the overarching goals of Health Care Reform: expanding coverage and access to health care for Americans, improving the quality of care and lowering escalating costs.
We are very concerned about current proposals that would require dental and vision care for children up to age 21 to be included in Essential Benefits offered as part of Qualified Health Benefit Plans. These offerings would be through an “Exchange,” or “Gateway,” which is a controlled marketplace regulated by either state or federal laws that set guidelines for insurance plans.
Initially applicable to purchases within an Exchange, the Essential Benefits requirement could also apply in the open marketplace under certain conditions. This would disrupt current stand-alone dental and vision plan choices as well as the family purchase of health benefits. As many parents enroll in dental and vision insurance plans as a family to cover their children, requiring children to be covered under Essential Benefit programs could result in fewer adults with dental and vision coverage. That would have unwelcome consequences for our nation’s oral, visual and overall health.
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