Dentists in several states have begun advocating for dental loss ratios after a momentous year for payer legislation in 2025.
Here are seven updates on DLRs for dental leaders to know:
1. Eighteen states passed a total of 37 dental insurance reform laws in 2025, according to the American Dental Association, with one of the most commonly addressed issues being dental loss ratios.
2. The ADA recently submitted comments to legislators to use during hearings with health insurance CEOs to investigate issues in the dental insurance marketplace. Dental loss ratios were among several reforms and fixes the ADA recommended.
3. While several states require DLR reporting, only two states have actually enacted a DLR threshold: Massachusetts and North Dakota.
4. So far in 2026, dentists and legislators have pushed for DLRs to be enacted in Alabama, West Virginia and Mississippi.
5. Alabama’s HB 212 and SB 81, would require at least 75% of individual plan premiums and 83% of group plan premiums to be used on patient care, rather than administrative costs.
6. West Virginia’s “More for Your Smile” bill is centered around a dental loss ratio of 85%.
7. Mississippi’s Creating Transparency and Accountability in Dental Services Act would require dental insurers in the state to perform dental loss ratio calculations and file an annual report with the Mississippi Insurance Commissioner.
