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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0120*
SENATE BILL 120
J5, J4 6lr1489
(PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Ellis
Requested: October 30, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Health Insurance – Required Benefits for Dental Preventive Care – Frequency 2
Limitation Interval 3
(Healthy Moms and Family Smiles Act) 4
FOR the purpose of shortening the maximum interval of days that certain carriers may 5
impose as a frequency limitation on dental preventive care; and generally relating to 6
benefits for dental preventive care. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Insurance 9
Section 15–135.1 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Insurance 15
15–135.1. 16
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 17
(2) “Carrier” means an insurer, nonprofit health service plan, health 18
maintenance organization, or dental plan organization that provides dental benefits on an 19
expense–incurred basis under policies or contracts issued or delivered in the State. 20
(3) “Dental preventive care” means a preventive dental visit, screening, 21
oral examination, teeth cleaning (prophylaxis), fluoride treatment, or routine preventive 22
service that is a covered benefit under a policy or contract issued or delivered by a carrier. 23
2 SENATE BILL 120
(b) If benefits for dental preventive care are available and all other requirements 1
for the coverage of dental preventive care are met, a carrier shall provide coverage for 2
dental preventive care: 3
(1) at any time during the plan year for a policy or contract that provides 4
coverage for dental preventive care once during the plan year; or 5
(2) subject to subsection (c) of this section, in accordance with any 6
frequency limitation for a policy or contract that provides coverage for dental preventive 7
care more than once during the plan year. 8
(c) A carrier may not impose a frequency limitation on dental preventive care that 9
requires the dental preventive care to be provided at an interval greater than [120] 90 days 10
during a plan year. 11
(d) This section may not be construed to require coverage for a service not 12
otherwise required by law. 13
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall apply to all 14
policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the State on or 15
after January 1, 2027. 16
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 17
January 1, 2027. 18