Delta Dental
Encyclopedia
Delta Dental is the largest dental plan system
in the United States
. The Delta Dental Plans Association comprises 39 independent Delta Dental member companies operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
. These member companies provide coverage to 50 million people, enrolled in over 88,000 groups. While many of the Delta Dental member companies and the Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA) are non-profit organizations, a few of the member companies have for-profit segments.
Delta Dental member companies serve over one-quarter of the estimated 165 million Americans with dental insurance.
, Oregon
and Washington, which were created by dentists who recognized the need to increase access to oral health care. Led by Washington Dental Service (WDS), Delta Dental began by providing dental benefit programs for organized labor unions
.
Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA) was created in 1966 to bring together these local state service organizations and coordinate dental benefit programs for customers with employees in multiple states. A year later, the first multi-state program was sold by WDS to the International Association of Machinists
. WDS ceded the administration for enrollees in other states to other Delta Dental member companies and contracted with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
for administration in those states without a Delta Dental affiliate organization.
Coverage was provided this way until the late 1980s when the Delta Dental of California (DDCA) won the bid for the Office of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (OCHAMPUS) program. Delta Dental member companies agreed to share its provider data so the administration of this very large account could be centralized, with Delta Dental of California sharing the administrative income and risk. The OCHAMPUS program led to the creation of the National Provider File (NPF), which was made available for commercial accounts in 1990 via Delta USA – providing Delta Dental coverage to organizations with employees and subscribers located in multiple states.
. It does this by encouraging the expansion of dental benefit programs administered through their 39 member companies. Delta Dental provides the means for these service corporations to cooperate in the provision of multi-state and national group dental coverage.
The headquarters of a company dictates which Delta Dental member company will provide insurance for that company. While there are only 39 member companies, every state is covered by a member company. For instance, one of the larger member companies, Delta Dental Insurance Company (DDIC), provides coverage for Alabama
, Alaska
, Florida
, Georgia
, Louisiana
, Mississippi
, Montana
, Nevada
, Texas
, and Utah
. DDIC is also affiliated with Delta Dental of California, giving them a total coverage area of 16 states and the District of Columbia. The size of a member company varies a great deal, with the largest in the thousands of employees, down to the smallest with tens of employees.
While the member companies are individual and very independent companies, there is an association they all belong to called Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA). This association is incorporated as a trade association. DDPA does not function as a corporate headquarters. It is a coordinating body that provides a number of services that multiple plans need as well as directing inquiries to the appropriate Delta Dental member company. DDPA is a very small company of about 30 people out of Oak Brook, IL. It is not to be confused with Delta Dental of Illinois
, which has 120+ people and is based in Lisle, IL. DDPA manages the Delta Dental brand, helps organize meetings, ties all the member companies together and allows them to price claims in other states. The National Provider File (NPF) allows these localized companies to write national business. This allows a subscriber to go to any provider signed up with the Delta Dental system throughout the country.
through separate active duty and retiree programs. There is a dental insurance option through AARP
that has their own hot line as well. This structure grew out of the history of Delta Dental.
, a virulent cavity causing bacteria.
Dental insurance
Dental insurance is a type of health insurance designed to pay a portion of the costs associated with dental care. There are several different types of individual, family, or group dental insurance plans grouped into three primary categories: Indemnity which allows you to see any dentist you want...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Delta Dental Plans Association comprises 39 independent Delta Dental member companies operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. These member companies provide coverage to 50 million people, enrolled in over 88,000 groups. While many of the Delta Dental member companies and the Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA) are non-profit organizations, a few of the member companies have for-profit segments.
Delta Dental member companies serve over one-quarter of the estimated 165 million Americans with dental insurance.
History
Delta Dental's roots go back to 1954 with the formation of dental service corporations in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and Washington, which were created by dentists who recognized the need to increase access to oral health care. Led by Washington Dental Service (WDS), Delta Dental began by providing dental benefit programs for organized labor unions
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
.
Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA) was created in 1966 to bring together these local state service organizations and coordinate dental benefit programs for customers with employees in multiple states. A year later, the first multi-state program was sold by WDS to the International Association of Machinists
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is an AFL-CIO/CLC trade union representing approx. 646,933 workers as of 2006 in more than 200 industries.-Formation and early history:...
. WDS ceded the administration for enrollees in other states to other Delta Dental member companies and contracted with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a federation of 39 separate health insurance organizations and companies in the United States. Combined, they directly or indirectly provide health insurance to over 100 million Americans. The history of Blue Cross dates back to 1929, while the history of...
for administration in those states without a Delta Dental affiliate organization.
Coverage was provided this way until the late 1980s when the Delta Dental of California (DDCA) won the bid for the Office of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (OCHAMPUS) program. Delta Dental member companies agreed to share its provider data so the administration of this very large account could be centralized, with Delta Dental of California sharing the administrative income and risk. The OCHAMPUS program led to the creation of the National Provider File (NPF), which was made available for commercial accounts in 1990 via Delta USA – providing Delta Dental coverage to organizations with employees and subscribers located in multiple states.
Current structure
The Delta Dental system's mandate is to increase the future definition of dental benefits to improve access to dental careDentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
. It does this by encouraging the expansion of dental benefit programs administered through their 39 member companies. Delta Dental provides the means for these service corporations to cooperate in the provision of multi-state and national group dental coverage.
The headquarters of a company dictates which Delta Dental member company will provide insurance for that company. While there are only 39 member companies, every state is covered by a member company. For instance, one of the larger member companies, Delta Dental Insurance Company (DDIC), provides coverage for Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. DDIC is also affiliated with Delta Dental of California, giving them a total coverage area of 16 states and the District of Columbia. The size of a member company varies a great deal, with the largest in the thousands of employees, down to the smallest with tens of employees.
While the member companies are individual and very independent companies, there is an association they all belong to called Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA). This association is incorporated as a trade association. DDPA does not function as a corporate headquarters. It is a coordinating body that provides a number of services that multiple plans need as well as directing inquiries to the appropriate Delta Dental member company. DDPA is a very small company of about 30 people out of Oak Brook, IL. It is not to be confused with Delta Dental of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, which has 120+ people and is based in Lisle, IL. DDPA manages the Delta Dental brand, helps organize meetings, ties all the member companies together and allows them to price claims in other states. The National Provider File (NPF) allows these localized companies to write national business. This allows a subscriber to go to any provider signed up with the Delta Dental system throughout the country.
Plan Assignment
If individuals have dental insurance through their employer, the Delta Dental member company in the state of their headquarters will handle coverage. Private insurance options are held by Delta Dental of California. Military contracts are handled by TricareTRICARE
TRICARE, formerly known as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services , is a health care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System. TRICARE provides civilian health benefits for military personnel, military retirees, and their dependents,...
through separate active duty and retiree programs. There is a dental insurance option through AARP
AARP
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is the United States-based non-governmental organization and interest group, founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus, PhD, a retired educator from California, and based in Washington, D.C. According to its mission statement, it is "a...
that has their own hot line as well. This structure grew out of the history of Delta Dental.
Cavity Reduction Support
Delta Dental companies are actively engaged in many studies, grants and partnerships with dental schools and community health organizations to increase access to professional dental care as well as to research evidence-based dentistry and the efficacy of new benefit designs. A recent Daily Mail article from the UK cited an $11M USD contribution to support the creation of an innovative lollipop that reduces the presence of cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. Although it's true that several Delta Dental Plans are involved in related research concerning anti-microbial lollipops (Delta Dental of CA, Delta Dental of WI and Washington Dental Service), the amount attributed in this Daily Mail article as a contribution from Delta Dental is not verified. The sugar free lollipop is currently available online and uses licorice extract to reduce the incidence of Streptococcus mutansStreptococcus mutans
Streptococcus mutans is a facultatively aerobic, Gram-positive coccus-shaped bacterium commonly found in the human oral cavity and is a significant contributor to tooth decay.The microbe was first described by J Kilian Clarke in 1924.-Introduction:...
, a virulent cavity causing bacteria.