According to the ADA , all states except Utah have chosen either the state ’ s Children ’ s Health Insurance Program plan or the MetLife High Option plan from the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program as their benchmark plan . The below chart from the Kaiser Foundation indicates that Pennsylvania is using the latter to supplement its benchmark plan .

Proposed Benchmark

Supplemental Coverage

Earlier this year , Governor Corbett unveiled his Healthy PA proposal .

Healthy PA is intended to focus on improving health care access , ensuring quality , and providing affordability for more than 500,000 Pennsylvanians , while reforming the Medical Assistance ( MA ) program . Rather than accept expansion of the traditional program , Governor Corbett is seeking a waiver from the federal government that would give many MA patients the option of applying for benefits through a private insurer . In late 2014 , the Department of Public Welfare ( DPW ) began seeking input from the public and it is now negotiating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ( CMS ) on the specifics of a partial public / private MA program . DPW is reasonably confident that CMS will approve this waiver .

If Pennsylvania adopts Healthy PA , those enrolled in Healthy PA ’ s private coverage option may be covered by any health services , including dental , if the plan determines that the service would improve the health outcomes of its members . Healthy PA is an ongoing project , and dental coverage for patients will change if the proposed coverage plans are approved .

Find more information and a free webinar on this issue on PDA ’ s website www . padental . org . In addition , the ADA published a series of informative documents that can be accessed via www . ada . org .

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