Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana Saves Customers Over $1.2 Billion in 2006

May 8, 2007 (Okemos, Mich.) —Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana (Delta Dental) reported more than $1.2 billion in savings for customers in 2006 due to cost management procedures.

Of the $1.2 billion, approximately $254 million occurred as a result of contract savings that includes contract exclusions and limitations. More than $212 million came from the Delta Dental Difference®, a unique cost management program that generates savings from the company’s contractual fee arrangements with participating dentists, who agree to accept Delta Dental’s fee as full payment for covered services and abide by Delta Dental’s processing policies. Because Delta Dental has the largest networks of participating dentists in the nation, these cost savings are substantial. In fact, over 86 percent of claims payments were made to participating dentists.

Additional savings were achieved through other procedures, including eligibility verification and the identification of duplicate claims.

Thomas J. Fleszar, D.D.S., M.S., president and chief executive officer of Delta Dental, said the savings in 2006 amounted to 46 percent of the $2.7 billion in total submitted charges.

“What differentiates one dental plan from another is the overall savings that the carrier can achieve while providing broad access to dental care,” said Fleszar. “The value of a dental plan lies in its total costs as well as how it improves the health of its enrollees through innovative plan design.”

He added, “Our 2006 results reflect our deep commitment to saving money for our customers and delivering the best total value in dental benefits.”

Fleszar said in the past five years the company has delivered nearly $5 billion in savings through its cost management measures.

Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, with its affiliate in Tennessee, are affiliated members of Renaissance Health Service Corporation, a family of companies that combined is one of the largest dental plan administrators in the nation. In 2006, the enterprise paid more than $1.7 billion for dental care for more than 6.2 million enrollees. Offices are located in Okemos, Farmington Hills, and Grand Rapids, Michigan; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis, Tennessee.

For more information, please visit:
Delta Dental of Michigan
Delta Dental of Ohio
Delta Dental of Indiana

For more information about the Detroit Oral Cancer Prevention Project, visit www.detroitoralcancer.org, or call 1-877-7-CHECKED (1-877-724-3253).

Delta Dental of Michigan, with its affiliates in Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee, are members of Renaissance Health Service Corporation, a family of companies that combined is one of the largest dental plan administrators in the nation. In 2006, the enterprise paid more than $1.7 billion for dental care for more than 6.2 million enrollees. Offices are located in Okemos, Farmington Hills, and Grand Rapids, Michigan; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis Tennessee.

Sources: Oral Cancer Foundation, American Cancer Society, Detroit Oral Cancer Prevention Project, Michigan Resident Cancer Incidence and Death Files, Michigan Department of Community Health.