Delta Dental of Rhode Island is on a roll.
The state’s largest dental insurer — posted a net gain of $3.8 million in 2000, while enrollment grew by 11 percent. The Providence-based insurer now has approximately 500,000 members.
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“Our performance last year reinforced our status as the state’s leading dental plan — no matter how you measure it,” said Joseph A. Nagle, Delta Dental’s president and chief executive officer.
The strong showing in 2000 — which includes a jump in premium revenues of 14 percent to more than $108 million — follows a similarly strong showing in 1999.
The insurer posted a net gain of nearly $4 million in 1999 on $95 million in subscriber premium revenue.
Delta Dental ended 1999 with $27.7 million in reserves. The company surpassed the one million mark in total claims volume for the first time last year, and paid out $82 million in claims. The company also boasted of processing 99 percent of its insurance claims within 15 days throughout 1999.
As 2000 drew to a close, Delta Dental’s reserves surpassed $31.4 million and claims had an average turnaround of two-and-half days.
Nagle said the strong numbers have followed a pattern that has developed since the current management team arrived at Delta Dental in 1993.
Steady growth, he said, has allowed the company to invest in technology. At the same time, said Nagle, Delta Dental has demonstrated a consistency that is attractive to its customers — many of whom sign on for multi-year contracts.
“There has been lots of volatility on the medical (insurance) side — we’ve tried to stay away from that and present more stability,” said Nagle.
Even single-digit increases, said Nagle, are important. They send the message that long-term commitment makes sense, he said.
Last year, Delta Dental tapped into technological advances with its BenefitCheck program — making sure that such information for customers is just a quick click away.
Delta Dental’s members and their dentists can log onto the company’s Web site at www.deltadentalri.com and get a look at detailed benefit information, including: an easy-to-read description of your benefits; who is covered by your plan; a year-to-date status of how many benefit dollars have been used; and X-ray coverage information.
In addition, business customers and dentists are able to e-mail Delta Dental questions directly to company representatives.
This past year, the insurer embarked on an outreach program targeting its youngest customers. “Teeth-on-the-Go” is a traveling bookbag program, which brings good oral health lessons to students in kindergarten through second grade. Included in the bookbag is a “Teacher’s Guide” that outlines a five-day lesson plan, along with daily activities.
Oral health is part of Rhode Island’s education curriculum, but the guidelines are somewhat vague.
“It gives teachers a complete tool that they can present themselves or have a volunteer dental hygienist come in,” said Mary Sommer, director of corporate communications at Delta Dental.
Established in 1959 as the Rhode Island State Dental Service Corporation, the company became a Delta Dental plan in 1973. From 1973 to 1993, the plan was administered under an agreement with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. In January 1993, Delta Dental split from Blue Cross and became an independent organization.
The company, which is headquartered on Charles Street and has 115 employees, is governed by a 15-member board of directors elected by a corporate membership composed of 85 members.
Nine out of 10 dentists in Rhode Island participate in Delta Dental.
