Take action today. Ask your Senators to cosponsor S. 1677 and your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 3277.
Every child deserves the opportunity to grow, eat, speak, breathe, and smile without barriers to medically necessary care. Yet for children born with congenital anomalies and birth defects, access to essential treatment can depend on whether an insurance company decides that needed care is “medical” or “cosmetic.”
The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA) would help change that.
One in every 33 children in the United States is born with a congenital anomaly. Some of these conditions involve serious oral and facial differences that can affect a child’s ability to breathe, eat, speak, and develop normally. Treatment may require multiple specialized surgeries and ongoing dental or orthodontic care as a child grows.
Too often, families face delays or denials from their insurance plans for medically necessary follow-up and corrective care. While an insurer may cover an initial procedure, later surgeries or essential dental and orthodontic treatment can be denied as “cosmetic”—even when that care is critical to a child’s health, function, and development.
ELSA would help ensure that children born with congenital anomalies have coverage for the medically necessary treatment they need. The legislation would require private group and individual health plans to cover medically necessary services related to the treatment of congenital anomalies.
In the Senate, S. 1677 is sponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA). In the House, H.R. 3277 is sponsored by Representatives Neal Dunn (R-FL) and Kim Schrier (D-WA).
Members of Congress need to hear from the people and families affected by gaps in health coverage not just health care providers speaking on their patient’s behalf. By speaking up, sharing why this issue matters, and asking your elected officials to support ELSA, you can help build support for children and families who need access to medically necessary care.
Take action today. Ask your Senators to cosponsor S. 1677 and your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 3277.
Together, we can help ensure that no child is denied the care they need to live, grow, and thrive.