By NextBestFitLaunch dental, vision & hearing benefits
Year 1 for Wave 1 populations · UHA; Rates BoardDiscuss this step
How other countries handled this same piece of implementation, what happened, and what it means for this plan.
Side by side
| Country | Approach | Result | Lesson for this plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| This plan (U.S.) | Adult dental, vision, and hearing are the largest benefit additions. Dental spending rises from $189.2B to $238.8B, and durable equipment (eyeglasses, hearing aids) from $86.4B to $93.3B. | ||
| United Kingdom | NHS dentistry uses a contract that pays dentists per 'unit of dental activity', underfunded relative to costs. | Many dentists stopped accepting NHS patients; 'dental deserts'. | Covering a benefit but underpaying for it produces nominal coverage without access. |
| Canada | Canadian Dental Care Plan launched in 2024 for uninsured people under $90,000 household income. | Rapid enrollment; provider participation grew after billing was simplified. | Simple billing and adequate fees drive dentist participation. |
| Germany | Statutory insurance covers basic dental with fixed subsidies for prosthetics. | Broad access; patients pay more for premium options. | Fixed subsidies for basic care plus private upgrades works for dental. |
United Kingdom
- What they did
- NHS dentistry uses a contract that pays dentists per 'unit of dental activity', underfunded relative to costs.
- What happened
- Many dentists stopped accepting NHS patients; 'dental deserts'.
- Lesson for this plan
- Covering a benefit but underpaying for it produces nominal coverage without access.
Canada
- What they did
- Canadian Dental Care Plan launched in 2024 for uninsured people under $90,000 household income.
- What happened
- Rapid enrollment; provider participation grew after billing was simplified.
- Lesson for this plan
- Simple billing and adequate fees drive dentist participation.
Germany
- What they did
- Statutory insurance covers basic dental with fixed subsidies for prosthetics.
- What happened
- Broad access; patients pay more for premium options.
- Lesson for this plan
- Fixed subsidies for basic care plus private upgrades works for dental.
More precedent
- UK NHS dentistry: banded patient charges and well-documented access problems as fees lagged costs. A warning about underpaying.