Leading pediatric dentist, Dr. Barry L. Jacobson, says that a new rule, if approved, would improve access to pediatric dental care under the Affordable Care Act

Online PR News � 30-August-2016 � The IRS has proposed a new rule that changes the way tax credits are calculated for families who purchase coverage for their children from the new health insurance marketplaces, says Dr. Barry L. Jacobson, DMD, FAAPD, a pediatric dentist in NYC and a world-renowned pediatric dental expert (www.949pediatricdentistry.com). Under the proposed rule, the IRS would consider the cost of standalone dental coverage in its calculation of the tax credit, essentially making pediatric dental coverage more affordable to those participating in the marketplace.

According to Dr. Jacobson, the Affordable Care Act considers dental services for children as one of its essential health benefits that must be offered. However, he warns that marketplace health plans do not automatically include pediatric dental coverage.

In most state and federally managed marketplaces, pediatric dental coverage can still be sold as a separate product through standalone dental plans, Dr. Jacobson. In most cases, parents must purchase standalone pediatric dental coverage.

Because of current policies, families do not receive a tax credit for additional coverage purchased beyond basic health insurance and, because pediatric dental coverage is not required by the Affordable Care Act, there is no motivation for families to participate.

Now, for the first time, we are seeing a proposal from the IRS that will consider the cost of standalone dental plans in the calculation of the ACA tax credit that qualifying families receive, he explains.

While the specifics of the proposed IRS calculation have yet to be revealed and are likely to be quite complex, Dr. Jacobson says that the bottom line is simple.

If passed, Dr. Jacobson says, beginning in 2019, families will be able to get the full tax credit amount, based on dental coverage, which the Affordable Care Act originally intended for them to receive.

Dr. Jacobson says that he would like to see adequate dental coverage as part of overall marketplace health plans while keeping deductibles manageable for families.

Some states, like Connecticut and California, have established standard plan designs that embed pediatric dental benefits into health plans while either exempting them from these deductibles or creating a small, separate deductible that's easier for families to meet, says Dr. Jacobson. It would be great to see this kind of approach applied on a broader scale.

For 18 years, Dr. Barry L. Jacobson DMD, FAAPD, has been a leader in pediatric dental care. His practice, located at 949 Park Avenue, New York, NY, offers laser dentistry for children, cosmetic dentistry for children, preoperative dental care for children, soft tissue procedures, 3D CAD-CAM crown fabrication, porcelain fillings, silver diamine fluoride, and treatment of fearful children, with behavior management experts on hand. Call 212-997-6453 (212-99-SMILE) for more information or visit Dr. Jacobsons website at www.949pediatricdentistry.com).