Prohibits dental insurers from refusing to honor directions to pay from insured, modifying benefits to be paid. Requires providers to accept payment by virtual credit card as unfair claims practices.

# Summary of Rhode Island Dental Insurance Bill

This bill aims to change the rules around how dental insurance companies handle payments to dentists and other dental care providers. Specifically, it would make it an "unfair claims practice" — a legal violation — for dental insurers to refuse to honor a patient's instructions about where insurance payments should be sent. For example, if a patient directs their insurance company to pay the dentist directly, the insurer would be required to follow that instruction rather than ignoring it or sending the payment elsewhere.

The bill also targets two additional practices. First, it would prohibit dental insurers from modifying or reducing the benefits they pay out in ways that don't align with what the policy promises. Second, it would make it an unfair practice for dental providers to be required to accept payment through virtual credit cards — a payment method that can come with processing fees that reduce what the provider actually receives. By classifying these actions as unfair claims practices, the bill would give regulators and affected parties legal tools to enforce compliance.

This legislation primarily affects dental insurance companies, dental care providers (such as dentists and oral surgeons), and patients with dental insurance in Rhode Island. Patients could benefit from having more control over how their insurance payments are directed, while dental providers could benefit from protections against reduced payments and costly payment methods. The bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and referred to the House Corporations Committee for consideration.