December 9, 2021

Dental, Vision Coverage to be Expanded for Connecticut’s Young Adults

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HARTFORD – Beginning on the First of the Year, young adults will have expanded access to dental and vision insurance coverages. State Rep. Pat Callahan (R-New Fairfield) supported a new law, Public Act 21-149, requiring certain health, dental, and vision insurance policies to continue coverage for a child, stepchild, or other dependent child until the policy anniversary date on or after the date the child turns age 26.

“Dental care and vision coverage can be big expenses to families, especially when children turn 19 and age out of their existing insurance options. Finding affordable care shouldn’t be a huge burden placed on Connecticut’s families,” explained Rep. Callahan. “This new law will make it a little more manageable for parents to continue to provide access to dental and vision policies to their children, especially at a time when young adults are just beginning to establish themselves. By age 26, however, individuals will be responsible for their own healthcare plans.”

According to public testimony submitted on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), Dr. Brianna Munoz stated that the expansion of coverage for individuals between the ages of 19 and 26 would significantly decrease the use of emergency dental care services and resources – ultimately leading to a major reduction of long-term expenses. According to the AAPD, these emergency services total $1.6 billion annually from emergency department visits alone.

“It’s critical that kids continue to go to the dentist and this new law will help more individuals get to their hygienists and dental care teams, as well as their eye doctors, without a lapse in coverage. I applaud the Public Health Committee for bringing this concept forward, which received bipartisan support when it came up for action on both the House and Senate floors. When business is conducted in a bipartisan fashion, we end up with policies such as this that move our state forward,” said Callahan.

To learn more about the law, you can click here. Several other new laws will be taking effect on January 1, 2022. Be sure to check Rep. Callahan’s web site, RepCallahan.com, for upcoming information on those additional new laws and other business happening within state government.

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