An Act relative to dental insurance assignment of benefits

This bill amends Massachusetts insurance laws to allow dental insurance plans to pay benefits directly to a patient's chosen dentist, even if that provider is not part of the plan's network. Under the new rules, a patient can sign a written form directing their insurance company to send payment straight to the dentist who performed the service, provided the dentist meets the plan's basic credentialing standards. The law requires that the amount paid to the out-of-network dentist must be at least equal to what the plan pays to its participating dentists, and it permits the insurer to verify that the specific service was actually rendered. This change applies to various types of dental coverage but excludes specific limited benefit policies such as hospital indemnity or disability income plans.