An Act relative to dental insurance assignment of benefits

This bill amends Massachusetts insurance laws to allow individuals with dental insurance to direct their benefits payments directly to a dentist who has not contracted with their insurance plan. To use this option, a patient must provide written authorization on a claim form, and the insurance company must then pay the dentist an amount at least equal to what they pay participating providers. The law permits insurers to review the specific patient's records to verify that the dental service was actually performed before making the payment. This change applies to most standard dental plans but excludes coverage for limited benefit policies such as accident-only insurance or disability income plans.