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House passes bill requiring dental insurers to publish 'run loss' data
Summary
The Mississippi House on final passage approved House Bill 117, which requires dental insurance carriers to post 'run loss' information (premiums received versus claims paid) on the insurance commissioner's website to improve transparency and competition; the bill passed by 115-0.
The Mississippi House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass House Bill 117, a measure requiring dental insurance carriers to publish their "run loss" information on the insurance commissioner's website.
The bill's floor sponsor, the gentleman from Jackson (identified in the transcript as Mister Zuber), told colleagues the measure "does 1 thing and 1 thing only. It's bringing sunshine and transparency to the dental insurance business." He said the posted run loss data—premiums collected compared with claims paid—should encourage competition and help reduce dental insurance costs in the state.
Members asked technical questions about the bill's scope. A member asked whether state-sponsored plans were covered; the sponsor responded that the bill applies to dental insurance policies as written and acknowledged the exemption language concerning state-sponsored plans and the Mississippi State Children's Health Plan may deserve further review.
The House proceeded to a recorded vote on final passage; the clerk announced the tally as "115 yays, 0 nays," and the bill passed.
The measure directs the insurance commissioner to maintain the posted run loss information publicly; the bill text discussed posting frequency and the content to be published but the transcript did not include detailed implementation dates or enforcement language, which remain to be set by the administering office.
The bill now moves to whatever subsequent steps under Mississippi legislative procedure follow final House passage.
