DELTA DENTAL INTRODUCES NEW BENEFIT PLANS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO HELP CONNECT MORE MISSOURIANS TO AFFORDABLE ORAL HEALTHCARE
ST. LOUIS, MO (Oct. 3, 2019) – Delta Dental of Missouri today announced an expanded array of dental benefit plan offerings for individuals and families looking to easily purchase affordable, quality dental benefits. The availability of the new plans coincides with the start of Open Enrollment season when medical benefit decisions are top of mind. Although researchers and public health officials continue to reinforce that oral health is critical to one’s overall health and well-being, dental coverage continues to lag behind health coverage for Americans and Missourians. The actual numbers for 2016 reveal that while 91 percent of Americans had medical benefits, only 77 percent had dental benefits.1 Delta Dental of Missouri hopes its new offerings can help to narrow that gap.
“We’re excited to provide enhanced coverage options for those individuals who are not receiving oral healthcare benefits through a group plan,” says Rob Goren, president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental of Missouri. “Oral health is a critical component in overall health, influencing and exacerbating other diseases, affecting the ability to perform well in work and school, and impacting self-esteem and well-being. By providing dedicated dental plans that connect individuals and their families to affordable, regular dental care, we believe we can change lives for the better.”
Delta Dental of Missouri’s new range of plan offerings is aimed at meeting the dental benefit needs of individuals and families, including retirees, young professionals just starting out, entrepreneurs, small business owners and others who may not realize they can purchase affordable coverage directly.
Consumers may choose from four dental plans with rates starting at $28 per month for an individual and $96 per month for a family. Each plan gives covered members the ability to visit any dentist regardless of whether the dentist participates in one of Delta Dental’s networks. However, since Delta Dental of Missouri has the largest network of dentists in the state, which includes 2,700 dentists or 95% of practicing dentists in Missouri, there’s a high probability that consumers will find that the dentist of their choice participates in the Delta Dental network. In addition, members will usually pay the lowest out-of-pocket costs when they receive care from a Delta Dental PPO™ Network dentist. Most Delta Dental plans cover preventive care such as exams, cleanings and x-rays at 100%.
The nature of dental care is distinct from medical care. Oral diseases are chronic and progressive, taking shape over time and resulting in high costs for treatment later. However, nearly all oral diseases can be prevented. Procedures are common and predictable, and routine dental visits are encouraged. These characteristics make dedicated dental plans that address preventive and predictable oral health needs a great value. Just as important, good oral health may also help reduce complications from some costly health conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.2
Delta Dental’s dedicated dental plans for individuals and families are available to all permanent residents of Missouri, age 18 and older. Coverage is also available for a spouse, as well as dependent children until the end of the month in which they turn 23. Pricing and details of what is covered by each of the plan offerings is available at https://individual.deltadentalmo.com/. Dental coverage through one of the new plans is easily accessible by enrolling on that same website or downloading the enrollment application, completing it and mailing it to Delta Dental’s offices at Delta Dental of Missouri, PO Box 22009, St. Louis, MO, 63126.
To learn more about receiving coverage from Delta Dental and to gain access to additional helpful oral health news and information, visit www.DeltaDentalMO.com or find the dental benefits leader on Facebook and Twitter @DeltaDentalMO.
About Delta Dental of Missouri
Delta Dental of Missouri is the state’s leading dental benefits provider and a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. It provides 1.9 million members with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. To learn more, visit www.DeltaDentalMO.com.
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1. "Health Insurance Coverage: Early Release Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, 2015," National Center for Health Statistics (PDF), 5/2016; "Who Has Dental Benefits Today," NADP Dental Benefits Report, 2017, 12/2017.
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016.