We, the undersigned, respectfully urge you to reject the proposed $1,000 annual cap on MassHealth dental benefits.

Oral health is essential to overall health. More than 1.7 million Massachusetts residents rely on the MassHealth Dental Program for preventive, restorative, and medically necessary care. Imposing an annual cap on dental benefits will limit access to care for children, adults, seniors, and people with disabilities—placing their health and well-being at risk.

A $1,000 cap does not control costs. Instead, it delays care, worsens disease, and shifts expenses to emergency rooms and hospitals—ultimately increasing healthcare spending for the Commonwealth. Untreated dental disease is directly linked to diabetes complications, heart disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, infections, and lost productivity.

A cap on dental care is a cap on medical care.

This proposal disproportionately harms low-income patients who already face barriers to care. No one’s health should be limited by an arbitrary dollar amount. Prevention and early treatment are proven, cost-effective strategies that protect both patients and public resources.

We stand together—patients, dentists, dental students, dental schools, community health centers, hygienists, assistants, advocates, and public health leaders—to ask that you:

Reject the $1,000 annual cap on MassHealth dental benefits
Protect access to preventive and medically necessary oral health care
Preserve a dental program that improves health outcomes and reduces long-term costs
Massachusetts has long been a leader in healthcare access and innovation. We urge you to uphold that legacy by ensuring that oral health remains an essential part of healthcare—without limits that harm patients and communities.