• Individual Product
• Small “Pooled” Group (2 to 50 Eligible Employees)
• Voluntary PPO
• ToGo^SM – Annual Maximum Carryover
• Oral Health Risk Assessment and Subscriber Connection (employee document)
• Employer Connection and Electronic Capabilities (group administrator document)

Delta Dental Moves into New Facility

Delta Dental has moved into its newly constructed facility. Our address has changed, but phone numbers, fax numbers and address for payment have not changed. Please note the following changes in our address below.

Physical Mailing Address
9000 Northpark Drive
Johnston, IA 50131

Claims Address
PO Box 9000
Johnston, IA 50131-9000

Group Administration Address
PO Box 9010
Johnston, IA 50131-9010

Payment Address (no change)
PO Box 5044
Des Moines, IA 50305-5044

For more information on Delta Dental’s move, please visit www.deltadentalia.com/move.

Meet Your Delta Dental Marketing Team

L to R, back row Diane Schroeder, Brenda Lowe, Vicki Vanderbilt, and Jennifer Nelson.
Front row Tina Link and Carissa Hood. Not pictured Kristi Rullestad.

Over the last year, Delta Dental has embarked on an initiative to restructure the Marketing and Sales Department by modifying responsibilities to better meet changing demands within the marketplace. The new restructure will allow the department to provide our clients and brokers with even better customer service while developing a cross-functional team.

As of September 1, all account and sales responsibilities will be as follows:

• Large Group Account Executives — Responsible solely for new large group (51+ employees) dental and vision sales. This position will continue to work with brokers and agencies, as well as direct accounts.
  • Brenda Lowe
  • Diane Schroeder
• Small Group/Individual Sales Lead — Responsible for new sales and retention of the small group “pooled” product (2-50 employees) and Delta Dental’s individual product. This individual will work to develop new sales channels, as well as work with current key brokers and agencies to maximize the product’s sale to employers and consumers.
  • Open Position
• Account Managers — Responsible for all facets of account management for existing large group accounts (51+ employee groups), providing ongoing service, renewals, benefit options and quotes.
  • Carissa Hood — Senior Account Manager, Groups 750 contracts and above
  • Jennifer Nelson — Account Manager, Groups 51 – 749 contracts
• Client Support Specialists — Responsible for the day-to-day activities to service and support new and existing accounts and working with brokers, large group and small group clients.
  • Vicki Vanderbilt — New Sales (Large), Small Group and Individual
  • Tina Link — Existing Large Groups
  • Kristi Rullestad — Existing Large Groups

Young Adult Coverage up to Age 26

As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, (”PPACA”) young adults up to age 26 are eligible for coverage under their parent/guardian’s health care plans, regardless of marital status, dependent status, student status or residency. Although this provision of PPACA does not apply to stand-alone dental or vision insurance, Delta Dental of Iowa will allow young adults up to age 26 to be covered under their parent/guardian’s policies.

Delta Dental will implement the expanded coverage depending on the type of dental plan listed below:

• Small “Pooled” Group (2 to 50 eligible employees) — Effective January 1, 2011, Delta Dental will provide benefits to any adult child up to age 26 that is included in the eligibility data provided by a small group employer.
• Large Fully-Insured and Self-Funded Groups (50+ eligible employees) — Effective immediately, during the renewal process, Delta Dental will offer employer groups the opportunity to add coverage for adult children up to age 26. Should an employer wish to add this benefit prior to their next renewal period, please contact your Delta Dental representative at 1-877-423-3582.
• Individual Dental – Effective July 1, 2010, all individual subscribers will have the ability to add coverage for adult children up to age 26.

As a reminder, the Iowa Continuation of Adult Children Coverage regulation already requires fully-insured and self-funded public plans covered by Iowa Code Section 509A to cover adult children up to age 25. Should a large, fully-insured or self-funded public plan not elect to add coverage up to age 26, the Iowa regulation will still apply.

If you have additional questions, please contact your Delta Dental representative at 1-877-423-3582.

2010 Survey Says: Customers are Happy and Have
Great Smiles

Delta Dental of Iowa makes every effort to ensure that your clients and their employees receive the best possible dental care and superior customer service. To accomplish these goals, we conducted a satisfaction survey of subscribers to evaluate the care and service they receive from Delta Dental and their dentist.

Below are some highlights of this year’s survey:

• Perceptions of subscribers’ oral health — 29% excellent, 48% very good, 19% good, 3% fair and 1% poor.
• Going to the dentist — 92% of respondents visited the dentist in the last 12 months for preventive treatments such as teeth cleanings and checkups. By taking care of teeth and gums with preventive visits, employees can reduce the risk of higher cost dental treatments in the future.
• Satisfaction with dentist — 97% of Delta Dental subscribers are satisfied with their dentist and would recommend their dentist to a friend or family member.
• Satisfaction with their Delta Dental plan — 90% of subscribers are satisfied with their current plan.

This survey gives Delta Dental an opportunity to see how your clients’ employees view their dental benefits and opportunities to improve our services. Delta Dental will be looking at ways to help subscribers understand the differences between preventive services vs. non-routine (root canals, bridges, etc.) coverages and costs.

A.M. Best Reaffirms Delta Dental Rating

Delta Dental of Iowa has again received a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) with a stable outlook from A.M. Best Company, Inc., a leading worldwide insurance rating and information agency. This is the sixth consecutive year that the non-profit, dental benefits provider has received the A- (Excellent) rating with a stable outlook.

“We are pleased that A.M. Best continues to independently recognize Delta Dental of Iowa’s core strengths in providing a strong dental network, while controlling administrative costs and delivering exceptional service to Iowa employers and their employees,” said Donn Hutchins, Delta Dental of Iowa president and CEO.

Founded in 1899, A.M. Best is a global full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial and health care service industries, including insurance companies, banks, hospitals and health care system providers.

Greater Des Moines Partnership and Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation Donate to Iowa Head Start Association

Representatives from the Greater Des Moines Partnership and the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation presented 9,000 toothbrushes, floss and toothpaste to representatives of the Iowa Head Start Association.

The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation, in conjunction with the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Des Moines/DC trip and Iowa’s Congressional delegation, donated 9,000 toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss to the Iowa Head Start Association. 

According to the Surgeon General, tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease.  “This donation is a small step to insure that each Head Start child in Iowa has their very own toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss,” said Donn Hutchins, president of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation.

Attendees of the Partnership’s Des Moines/DC trip and Iowa’s Congressional delegation had the opportunity to learn more about Delta Dental’s national alliance with the Head Start Association.  The donation was presented at the Iowa Head Start Association Directors July 14^th meeting in Des Moines. 

The Iowa Head Start Association represents 18 locally-operated, federally-funded Head Start programs that provide comprehensive child development programs for 3-to 5-year-old children from low-income families in 98 of Iowa’s 99 counties. Head Start provides services to promote academic, social and emotional development, as well as providing social, health and nutrition services. Head Start serves 7,915 children (2006-07) from 7,312 families in Iowa.

• Individual Product
• Small “Pooled” Group (2 to 50 Eligible Employees)
• Voluntary PPO
• ToGo^SM – Annual Maximum Carryover
• Oral Health Risk Assessment and Subscriber Connection (employee document)
• Employer Connection and Electronic Capabilities (group administrator document)

Governor Signs Non-Covered Services Bill

During the recent Iowa legislative session, Delta Dental sent you several communications on House File 2229 (HF 2229). The bill prevents dental benefit carriers from setting a fee ceiling for services that are not covered by the dental plan.

On April 29^th, Governor Culver signed HF 2229. Effective July 1^st, Delta Dental can no longer hold participating dentists to a maximum fee for services that are not covered in the subscribers’ dental plan.

We appreciate your support and reaching out to your legislators on this bill to maintain benefits for Iowans with dental insurance.

Join Delta Dental on June 17^th for an Event on Health
Care Reform

Delta Dental of Iowa is sponsoring an educational presentation for Delta Dental brokers and agents on Thursday, June 17, 2010, at the Cedar Rapids Marriott. The featured speaker, Jesse Patton, will provide an overview of the recent health care reform legislation, what it means for dental and vision coverage and how it will affect your clients.

The presentation on Health Care Reform will be eligible for two hours of CE credits (pending approval). Jesse Patton is Founder and President of Associations Marketing Group, Inc. in Des Moines. With almost 30 years in the insurance industry, Jesse is known nationally and locally as an expert on health care reform.

In addition, Tom Long from The Long Group, LLC will be presenting trends in the dental industry and key insights on benefit decision-makers. Tom has performed research for the Delta Dental Plans Association and many other national health care companies.

The day will also include an update on Delta Dental products and services. If you have any questions about this event, or would like to register by phone, please contact Sharon Porter at 515-261-5581.

Health Care Reform Alert: Young Adult Coverage up to Age 26

As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”), young adults up to age 26 are eligible for coverage under their parent/guardian’s health care plans, regardless of marital status, dependent status, student status or residency. Although this provision does not apply to stand-alone dental or vision insurance, Delta Dental of Iowa will allow young adults up to age 26 to be covered under their parent/guardian’s policies.

Delta Dental will implement the expanded coverage depending on the type of dental plan. Click here to view the implementation dates.

Delinquency Notice Change

Starting in June, Delta Dental of Iowa is changing its delinquency pay notice process. Delta Dental will no longer notify your agency of group delinquencies. However, Delta Dental will notify your agency of groups that have not paid their current month’s premium at the end of the month. This will allow time for you to contact the group before the termination process begins.

Remember, Delta Dental sends bills around the 15^th of each month for the following month. The payment is due the first of the following month. For example: July bills will be sent around June 15^th and are due on July 1^st. Please remind your groups that claims are not paid unless we have payment in house for the month the claim occurred.

If you have any questions about the billing process change, please contact your Delta Dental representative at 877-423-3582.

New Monthly Mouthful Website Helps Improve Your Clients’ Employees’ Oral Health
Includes resources to help your clients educate their employees about dental benefits.

Delta Dental of Iowa has launched the Monthly Mouthful, a website created to provide your clients with a helpful tool to include in their overall wellness initiatives. The new website is dedicated to providing information to help improve your clients’ employees’ oral health at www.OralHealthIA.com.

Each month, the website will be updated with fun oral health information specific to the time of year. In June, Monthly Mouthful includes information to help brighten smiles during the summer and what subscribers can do if they have a dental emergency.

Your clients and their employees can sign up to receive e-mail updates with new monthly content. The website also includes an employer resources section, featuring newsletter articles, posters, flyers and brochures to help your clients inform and educate their employees about the value of their dental benefits.

Make the most of these helpful resources – encourage your clients to email their employees the website, post the link on their Intranet, or print articles and posters from the Monthly Mouthful.

Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation and Public Benefit Funding Map

As a not-for-profit, Delta Dental of Iowa’s vision is to improve the oral health of the people we serve. Through the Delta Dental of Iowa Public Benefit program, Delta Dental uses two funding vehicles to fulfill this vision – the Delta Dental of Iowa Donor Advised Fund at the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation and the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation.

In 2009, more than $1 million was distributed for oral health grants throughout Iowa. Delta Dental invests in oral health projects that focus on access to care, prevention, education and research. Below is a map that shows where Delta Dental provided funding in 2009. For a complete list of organizations that received funding, please click here.

Click map to view larger image

• Individual Product
• Small “Pooled” Group (2 to 50 Eligible Employees)
• Voluntary PPO
• To Go^SM – Annual Maximum Carryover
• Oral Health Risk Assessment and Subscriber Connection (employee document)
• Employer Connection and Electronic Capabilities (group administrator document)

New Facility Address Starting in April

Delta Dental is in the process of building a new facility located in Urbandale and is expected to move later in 2010. Due to the facility move, some of Delta Dental’s PO boxes and the physical address will be changing. Please note, the address for monthly payments, phone numbers and fax numbers will not change. Beginning in April, Delta Dental will start using the following Johnston address for enrollment and claims:

Most of the Delta Dental PO boxes will be transitioned prior to the physical move into the new facility to ensure a smooth transition. Please make note of the new PO boxes. Your clients can either use up current forms or replace with those on the Delta Dental of Iowa website.

DeltaVision^® vs. Vision Discounts

Delta Dental recently announced its newest offering, DeltaVision, fully-insured vision plans. In addition, all Delta Dental subscribers now have access to a vision discount program through EyeMed Vision Care^®.

Below is a chart that demonstrates the difference between DeltaVision and the EyeMed vision discount program.

^*Assumes: Frame allowance of $130, exam co-pay of $10, lens co-pay of $25

DeltaVision, the insured vision benefit, offers a much richer and comprehensive benefit. For more information on DeltaVision, contact your Delta Dental representative at 877-423-3582 or go to www.deltadentalia.com/deltavision. For more information on the vision discount, go to www.deltadentalia.com/visiondiscount.

Legislative Update: Non-Covered Services Legislation House File 2229

During the last few weeks, Delta Dental has sent you several communications on House File 2229 (HF 2229), a bill that would prevent dental benefit carriers from setting a fee ceiling for services that are not included in a patient’s dental plan.

During the debate on HF 2229, you made a difference and the potential financial impact of the bill on your client’s employees’ out-of-pocket costs was reduced through amendments in the Senate. On March 23^rd, HF 2229, as amended by the Senate, was passed by the House.

The bill will now go to the Governor for his review and determination to sign the bill into law or “veto” the bill. Delta Dental continues to be in opposition of this bill.

We appreciate your support and reaching out to your legislators on this bill.

2010 Federal Health Care Reform Summary on
Dental Benefits

During the past year, Delta Dental actively engaged in the federal health care reform debate, providing input and advice on how dental coverage and costs might be affected. Now that the legislation has passed, a full assessment is underway. Although complete information is not yet available, Delta Dental has done a preliminary review of some of the key provisions affecting dental plans and our customers. To read this review, please visit the Delta Dental website.

Why Your Clients Should Offer Dental Benefits to Their Employees

Did you know 83 percent of people with dental benefits visit the dentists twice a year or more, while only 63 percent of people without dental benefits visit the dentist twice a year? Regular dental exams can detect significant medical conditions before they become serious. More than 120 diseases can cause specific signs in and around the mouth or jaw.¹

Dental professionals performing checkups can spot symptoms that could indicate serious health problems elsewhere in the body that need attention, saving subscribers medical costs in the long run.

Offering dental benefits can keep your client’s employees at work and productive. Among adults, 164 million work hours are lost each year due to dental-related illnesses.²

Finally, dental benefits are instrumental to helping your clients attract and retain top talent. According to one study, 70 percent of respondents said that dental benefits coverage is somewhat or very important.³

¹ The Long Group Retail Dental Insurance Consumer Acceptance Survey, June 2009.
² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Fact Sheet: “Preventing Dental Cavities,” 2002.
³ The Long Group and Delta Dental Plans Association, 2008.

Delta Dental Individual Plans an Option for Retirees and Alternative to COBRA

In addition to selling dental benefits to employer groups, Delta Dental also offers dental benefits for individuals. These plans are available for Iowa residents in all stages of life — from retirees to self-employed individuals to college students.

Delta Dental offers two plans:

• The Preferred Choice plan provides benefits for preventive services such as check-ups and cleanings, while offering coverage for major dental services.
• The Preventive plan is designed for individuals that want benefits for routine dental check-ups, x-rays and cleanings.

Monthly premiums for the Preferred Choice plan start at $36 and the Preventive plan premiums start at $18.

If your clients have employees that are retiring or looking for dental benefit alternatives to COBRA, please direct them to the Delta Dental of Iowa website or call us at 1-877-423-3582 ext. 3.

• Individual Product
• Small “Pooled” Group (2 to 50 Eligible Employees)
• Voluntary PPO
• ToGo^SM – Annual Maximum Carryover
• Oral Health Risk Assessment and Subscriber Connection (employee document)
• Employer Connection and Electronic Capabilities (group administrator document)

Introducing DeltaVision^®
Delta Dental of Iowa is proud to introduce DeltaVision, vision benefit plans for employers that combine choice, value and wellness.

Utilizing the EyeMed Vision Care^® Access network, DeltaVision plans give enrollees access to a national network of both independent providers, including optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians, and leading optical retailers.

DeltaVision offers several vision care plan options for employers including a materials-only option designed to compliment medical plans that cover a yearly vision exam. All of the DeltaVision full coverage plans include annual contact lens fit and follow-up exams at no additional cost.

Delta Dental will begin including a quote for vision benefits with all dental renewals. DeltaVision is underwritten by Veratrus Benefit Solutions, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Dental of Iowa. In addition to the fully-insured vision plans, Delta Dental offers all subscribers a vision discount program through EyeMed Vision Care.

For more information on DeltaVision, Delta Dental will be hosting webinars on the following dates:

• Wednesday, January 27 – 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
• Tuesday, February 2 – 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 3 – 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Please contact Sharon Porter at 515-261-5581 to register for the DeltaVision webinar.

More information on DeltaVision will be available in February on the Broker Portal on the Delta Dental website at www.deltadentalia.com.

Vision Discount Number Incorrect
Starting in January, Delta Dental of Iowa also began offering a vision discount program at no cost to all subscribers through EyeMed Vision Care, LLC. It has come to our attention that the vision discount brochure referenced in the December newsletter and sent to employers in December and early January had an incorrect phone number to access information on the discount program. The correct phone number is 1-866-246-9041.

Delta Dental is sending a letter and a new vision discount flyer to all group contacts the week of January 25. Please replace any communications you may have provided your clients with the corrected phone number. You should discontinue using the brochure on the vision discount that has the code DVDISC122009 on the bottom left corner. A new brochure can be downloaded from the Delta Dental website at www.deltadentalia.com/visiondiscount with the correct phone number.

We apologize for any inconvenience this error may have caused you or your clients. If you have any questions about the discount program, please contact marketing@deltadentalia.com.

COBRA Extension
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provided a premium reduction and extended election opportunities for benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA). The ARRA is also applicable to all employers who choose to offer continued dental coverage under the Iowa Continuation Coverage (ICC) requirements. ICC applies to employers with less than 20 employees.

Effective December 19, 2009, the COBRA Premium Subsidy was extended to include the following:

• Extension of the subsidy eligibly period from December 31, 2009 to February 28, 2010.
• Extension of the subsidy coverage period from 9 to 15 months. (Excludes employers subject to ICC)
• Provides retroactive coverage for subscribers who fall within the “transition period.” This includes individuals who reached the end of the original COBRA subsidy coverage period and either terminated their Delta Dental coverage or continued it at 100%. (Excludes employers subject to ICC)

Delta Dental will continue to process the premium subsidy for employers as outlined in the original COBRA and ICC communications issued on April 20, 2009. To view these communications, please go to www.deltadentalia.com/cobra.

Revised Delta Dental Business Associate Agreement
Delta Dental of Iowa has revised its Business Associate Agreement to comply with the requirements of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which amends HIPAA. This agreement was sent to Delta Dental ASC (self-insured) clients on December 23, 2009. You may have received calls from your clients about this communication from Delta Dental. This agreement replaces our previous agreement.

Each client received two copies of the agreement – one copy should be kept by the client, the other copy should be signed by your client and returned to Delta Dental by January 31, 2010.

If you have any questions about the revised Business Associate Agreement, please contact Holly Twedt at 515-261-5567.

Delta Dental ACH Form Updated
In September, new regulations went into effect regarding international ACH transactions. If an entity sends or receives ACH transactions to/from a banking institution not located in the United States, the new guidelines must be followed.

To comply with the new regulations, Delta Dental has modified its ACH forms. The new ACH forms can be found online on the Broker Portal at www.deltadentalia.com under the Agent Kit. Please discontinue using the old ACH forms immediately and replace with the new form.

If you have a client with an international banking institution, please contact Kathy Erickson with Delta Dental at 515-261-5515 for further instructions.

Smile Squad™ Teaches Dental Health Lessons Through Fun Activities
Your clients’ employees care about their children’s oral and overall health and want to teach their kids good oral hygiene habits. To help, Delta Dental recently launched the Smile Squad™, a group of young heroes created to educate children about the importance of good oral health through fun and educational activities at www.SmileSquadHQ.com.

The Web site features illustrations and bios of all heroes and villains and offers a variety of activities for children and parents to enjoy while immersing themselves in positive dental health information, including comic-book style adventures, downloadable coloring pages, online games and a downloadable Smile Squad card game.

Every dentist in the Delta Dental Premier^® network will receive a Smile Squad card game for children to play with in the waiting room. Parents and children can also sign up on the Web site to receive e-mail alerts when new adventures and other exciting features become available.

Delta Dental Awards Grants for Oral Health Projects
The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation awarded $57,899 to 10 Iowa agencies to improve the oral health of Iowans. The oral health grants are part of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation’s mini-grant program. Mini-grants are intended to support one-time oral health projects or to stimulate long-term oral health projects.

The agencies awarded mini-grants by the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation in October 2009 included:

• Area Health Education Center – Southeast Iowa, Davenport – $8,684 for an educational program for middle school students about chewing tobacco.
• Buena Vista University, Storm Lake – $10,000 for an undergraduate rural dentistry internship program.
• Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines – $10,000 for oral health educational books for 458 family practice and pediatric offices throughout Iowa.
• Iowa Central Community College, Fort Dodge – $3,500 for custom-fit mouth guards for 100 high school athletes and $3,250 for educating nursing home staff and residents on oral health care and its affect on overall health.
• Iowa Branch of the American Student Dental Association, Iowa City – $8,000 for the second edition printing of “Healthy Smiles for Young Children.”
• North Iowa Community Action Organization, Mason City – $3,000 for fluoride varnish and hygienic covered toothbrush racks to Head Start facilities and schools in nine Iowa counties.
• Siouxland Community Health Center, Sioux City – $3,000 to provide screening supplies for use by dental professionals as well as oral health aids for home use.
• Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa, Des Moines – $3,000 for oral health educational and outreach materials.
• Winnebago County Public Health, Forest City – $500 to provide supplies for oral health screenings for children with no dental insurance.
• Youth Law Center, Des Moines – $4,966 for oral health supplies to be provided to juvenile court judges to provide these supplies for at-risk families.

• Individual Product
• Small “Pooled” Group (2 to 50 Eligible Employees)
• Voluntary PPO
• ToGo^SM – Annual Maximum Carryover
• Oral Health Risk Assessment and Subscriber Connection (employee document)
• Employer Connection and Electronic Capabilities (group administrator document)

2010 Individual Rates

Delta Dental has created a new bochure for the individual product with 2010 rates. The new brochure is available on the Broker Portal at http://www.deltadentalia.com. Please destroy any 2009 individual brochures with the code “DDIND102008”. These brochures include 2009 rates.

The Delta Dental individual plan has received a slight rate increase for 2010. Individuals on the Preferred Choice, Preventive and Comprehensive plans received a notice of the new 2010 rates on November 1. If you have clients on the Comprehensive plan that would like to switch to the preferred choice plan, please have them complete the first page of the individual application.

New Individual Dental Brochure for 2010

If you would like to receive the new 2010 individual plan brochure, contact Vicki Vanderbilt at 515–261–5522.

New Benefits for 2010 Small Group “Pooled” Plans (2 to 50 employees)

In 2009, Delta Dental added To Go^SM and the Enhanced Benefits Program to the small group “pooled” plans for businesses with 2 to 50 benefit eligible employees. These enhancements were added to the Delta Dental Premier and PPO products — Standard, Plan A and Plan B.

Starting in 2010, employees with these plans will have access to an increased annual benefit maximum by utilizing the To Go benefit. With To Go, employees can rollover their unused annual maximum from 2009 to 2010, as long as they were covered under the group’s dental plan effective January 1, 2009, and had at least one service in 2009.

The Enhanced Benefits Program allows employees with certain medical conditions to receive additional benefits such as cleanings and fluoride treatments. In 2010, new medical conditions will be added to this benefit including high–risk cardiac conditions, suppressed immune systems, kidney failure or dialysis, and cancer, chemotherapy and/or radiation.

More information on these benefits will be included with 2010 small group “pooled” plan renewals.

Vision Care Discount Program Available to All Delta Dental Subscribers

Starting in January, Delta Dental of Iowa subscribers will have access to a vision discount program through EyeMed Vision Care at no additional cost to them. The program features discounts on eye exams, frames, conventional contact lenses, LASIK, PRK and other vision care products and services.

To utilize the EyeMed Vision Care Discount Program, Delta Dental subscribers just need to present their Delta Dental ID card to the EyeMed provider to receive the discounts. To locate an EyeMed provider call 1–866–559–5252 or go to www.eyemedvisioncare.com/deltadental.

For details on the discount program, go to www.deltadentalia.com/visiondiscount and download a PDF that your clients can share with their employees.

Non–Covered Services Policy Provides
Cost Protection

Delta Dental of Iowa is committed to keeping dental care affordable and improving the oral health of Iowans. We have a strong network of dedicated participating dentists who provide excellent and quality services to subscribers.

As reported in the July newsletter, Delta Dental of Iowa recently went through a recontracting process with participating dentists to implement a national non–covered services policy. This policy establishes a fee ceiling when an enrollee goes to a Delta Dental dentist for certain non-covered dental services (adult orthodontia, teeth whitening and implants) and acts as a consumer protection measure against a possible excessive fee. This fee ceiling also applies to charges not covered because it exceeds the enrollee’s annual plan maximum or because of deductibles, waiting periods and frequency limitations.

This policy will become effective January 1, 2010, and applies to services provided by Iowa Delta Dental participating dentists. There are no additional costs to the purchasing group for these fee protections on non-covered services, nor any impact to claims payment or processing fees.

If you have questions about this new policy, please go to the Employer section of the Delta Dental website and select Non-Covered Services Policy.

Easy, Secure, and Green – Online EOBs from Delta Dental

Delta Dental has introduced an online tool that allows subscribers to view, print and/or download their explanation of benefits (EOBs) quickly and securely through the Subscriber Connection.

Sign up today

1. Go to www.deltadentalia.com.
2. Log into the secure Subscriber Connection (requires registration).
3. Click the link to sign up to receive electronic EOBs (next to the envelope icon).
4. Enter your email and select “Yes, subscribe to Electronic EOBs.”
5. Click Submit.

Remember, Delta Dental only sends subscribers an EOB if they have a financial responsibility to their provider.  Online EOBs are easy to use, secure and help our environment.

United Way Pacesetter Company Exceeds
Campaign Goal

Delta Dental of Iowa employees, along with the company’s matching gift program, contributed more than $58,000 to the United Way of Central Iowa.

As a United Way Pacesetter company, Delta Dental ran an aggressive campaign and exceeded last year’s results by 18 percent. Throughout the month of August, Delta Dental conducted 10 fundraisers including a bake sale, silent auction and raffle to raise money for the United Way.

“Delta Dental of Iowa and its employees are committed to giving back to our community through the United Way of Central Iowa,” said Donn Hutchins, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Iowa. “Being a pacesetter company for the 2009 campaign was a great honor and we are very proud of our campaign results.”

• Individual Product
• Small “Pooled” Group (2 to 50 Eligible Employees)
• Voluntary PPO
• ToGo^SM – Annual Maximum Carryover
• Oral Health Risk Assessment and Subscriber Connection (employee document)
• Employer Connection and Electronic Capabilities (group administrator document)

Introducing DeltaVision^®

Delta Dental of Iowa is proud to introduce DeltaVision^®, vision plans utilizing the EyeMed Vision Care Access network. Starting with January 2010 sales and renewals, Delta Dental will include a quote for vision benefits for all group purchasers. In addition to offering vision plans, all Delta Dental subscribers will have access to the EyeMed Vision Discount Program.

More information on the new DeltaVision plans will be presented during broker webinars in October. Watch your email for dates and times.

Successful E–billing Campaign Helps Small Groups Go Green

Delta Dental is committed to “going green and going electronic” to help employer groups save time, money and be a better friend to our environment. Over the summer, Delta Dental worked within our pooled group business by contacting these groups to encourage them to transition to online billing. To date, nearly 500 employer groups have successfully made the transition to online billing rather than receiving a paper bill through the mail.

Several groups have also signed up for online enrollment services through the Delta Dental Employer Connection, our online tool to help groups manage dental benefits for their employees. Based on the great response, Delta Dental will be reaching out to additional groups this fall.

“We continue to see more and more employer groups looking to contain benefit costs, while utilizing our online services to improve efficiencies,” said Greg Shireman, vice president of sales and marketing for Delta Dental of Iowa. “For our small businesses, the ability to use our online services helps them keep their administrative costs down and allows them to have more time for what’s important — growing their business.”

If you’re interested in online billing or learning more about the Employer Connection, please contact our Enrollment and Eligibility Team at 877–983–3582 or via email at enrollment@deltadentalia.com.

Surveys Reveal Consumers Connect Oral Health and Overall Health

The majority of consumers age 25 and older make a strong connection between oral health and an individual’s overall health and are motivated to seek dental care. These findings were revealed in a recent survey of consumers for Delta Dental Plans Association¹ and Delta Dental of Iowa².

“Over the past decade there has been increasing evidence documenting the relationship between oral health and overall health,” says Ed Schooley, DDS, dental director for Delta Dental of Iowa. “So we find it very positive that these consumers are making the connection, as well.”

Sixty–eight percent of US consumers and 75 percent of Iowans recognize the link between oral health and overall health status. An oral health study examining 15 years of Delta Dental claims data on approximately 750,000 enrollees shows that dental benefit coverage can lead to dramatic improvements in oral health.³

More Key Findings

• Surveyed consumers view dental benefits as “very important,” along with medical insurance, prescription drug coverage and retirement benefits.
• 59 percent of US consumers and 58 percent of Iowans surveyed have dental insurance and of those, 82 percent of US consumers and 89 percent of Iowans have coverage through an employer–sponsored dental plan.
• Among consumers with dental insurance benefits, Delta Dental is the established leader in the US and Iowa for reasons such as ease of use and access to the consumer’s own dentist.

¹ The Long Group for Delta Dental Plans Association, 2008.
² Hill Simonton Bell for Delta Dental of Iowa, 2008.
³ Delta Dental Plans Association, Dental Data Analysis Center, 2004.

New Oral Health and Wellness Portal Debuts

Your clients have oral health and wellness questions. Delta Dental has the answers. Delta Dental’s new Oral Health and Wellness portal at http://OralHealth.DeltaDental.com offers a robust search function to make finding answers and information easy.

Users have the resources of 400 articles at their fingertips. The articles are grouped into four main categories: Pediatric Oral Health, Adult Oral Health, Oral Cancer and Harvard Health. Each category is divided into subsections.

The articles are written by a highly skilled team of medical and registered nurse writers and vetted by Delta Dental Plans Association’s National Scientific Advisory Committee (NSAC).

Encourage your clients to rely on the trusted oral health leader for oral health and wellness information.

Running Eligibility Reports through the
Employer Connection

Through Delta Dental’s Employer Connection, employers can run an eligibility listing report that shows current coverage type, dependent names, and address information Delta Dental has on file for all enrolled employees.

To run the eligibility report, follow the directions below:

1. Go to www.deltadentalia.com and log into the Employer Connection.
2. Click on Online Enrollment.
3. Under Enrollment Reporting, select Eligibility List.
4. Choose the report options to download the report:
   • Select the group number — only if you have multiple group numbers
   • Select the sort order — by member number or last name
   • Should dependents be included? yes or no
   • Should addresses be included? yes or no
   • Select delivery format, to screen or Excel (Excel recommended)
5. Click “Submit” to begin running the report.

If you have any questions on this report or other features of the Employer Connection, please contact our Group Administration team at 877–983–3582.

Delta Dental and Vendor Recognize National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As a company that has a value of caring, Delta Dental is proud to support initiatives that raise breast health awareness. During October, Emdeon, Delta Dental’s explanation of benefits (EOB) vendor, will be printing the Susan G. Komen pink ribbon on all outgoing mail in honor of Breast Health Awareness month. Delta Dental of Iowa will also be a sponsor of the Des Moines Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on October 24, 2009.

Delta Dental Funds Oral Health Projects
Throughout Iowa

Delta Dental of Iowa has given $70,236 to 15 agencies to improve the oral health of Iowans. The grants are part of the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation’s mini–grant program. These grants support one–time oral health projects, such as workshops or conferences, or short–term projects of up to a year in duration, such as surveys or data collection.

The 15 agencies that received funding are:

• Children and Family Urban Ministries, Des Moines
• Drake University Head Start, Des Moines
• Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP)
• Iowa Care Givers Association, West Des Moines
• Iowa Dental Association, Johnston
• Iowa Department of Public Health–Oral Health Bureau, Des Moines
• Marion County Public Health Department, Marion
• Marshalltown Community School District
• MATURA Action Corp., Creston
• Mercy Family Medicine Residency Program, Des Moines
• National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped, Ankeny
• River Hills Community Health Center, Ottumwa
• Shalom Zone Ministries, Des Moines
• Special Olympics, Des Moines
• University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City

Delta Dental of Iowa’s “Chew on This” Educational Presentation is Postponed

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the keynote speaker for the “Chew on This” event is unable to attend the educational presentation on July 31st at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines. The presentation will be rescheduled for late August. We will be providing details on the rescheduled event in the upcoming weeks. Thank you for your interest in the “Chew on This” event. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

For the most up to date information regarding this event, go to the Delta Dental website at www.deltadentalia.com.

New Oral Health Options for 2010

Starting in January, Delta Dental will be offering an additional optional benefit — Enhanced Benefits Program — and an updated plan design — CheckUp Plus. These plans are designed for fully–insured or self–insured, employer–sponsored plans with more than 51 eligible employees.

Enhanced Benefits Program
The Enhanced Benefits Program integrates the science of medical conditions with oral health. This program helps employers lower overall costs by directing preventive care where it’s needed most — in addition to promoting medical cost savings. Delta Dental has added additional medical conditions to this existing benefit to cover additional cleanings and treatments. In 2010, the following medical conditions are eligible for extra benefits — pregnancy, diabetes, periodontal disease, kidney failure or dialysis, high–risk cardiac conditions, cancer-related chemotherapy and/or radiation and suppressed immune systems.

CheckUp Plus
Preventive care in oral health has high cost effectiveness; every dollar spent on preventive oral health services saves $8 in future treatment costs. With CheckUp Plus, diagnostic and preventive services such as check ups and cleanings do not count towards annual benefit maximums. This encourages employees to seek preventive services while leaving more dollars for major services if needed.

Contact your Delta Dental representative to learn more about adding these benefits to clients’ dental plans for 2010.

Competitive Advantage: An Important Reason for Your Clients to Continue Offering Dental Benefits

It’s no secret that the economy is in worse shape than it has been in decades. The recession is affecting businesses in every industry, including your clients’. The economic crisis is causing many companies to rethink their health plan strategies, and some might be considering reducing or dropping employee benefits, like dental.

According to a survey from Watson Wyatt, employers see the current recession lasting a while. Sixty-one percent of employers expect the current downturn to last at least until the end of 2009.

Although your clients probably realize dental benefits are important to their employees, they are not immune to the challenges of a difficult economy. They might see dental benefits as non-essential for their employees at this time.

Your clients may need a reminder that even in a tight economy, companies have to remain competitive to recruit and retain talented employees. A strong benefits package can play a key role in attracting and retaining top talent. Dental coverage plays a significant role in rounding out that package.

A survey of attitudes about dental benefits found that 80 percent of the respondents felt it was “very important/somewhat important” that prospective employers provide dental benefits.¹ Also, a majority of respondents did not view the rising cost of health care as a credible reason for cutting dental benefits.¹

The research indicates that prospective and current employees place great value on dental benefits, and this provides excellent opportunities for you to communicate with your clients the value of quality dental benefits for effective employee recruitment and retention. If your clients drop dental benefits, they could risk losing current or prospective employees to their competitors who continue offering them.

¹Taylor Nelson/Sofres Intersearch survey, 2002

Employer Connection: Using Online Enrollment

Through the Delta Dental Employer Connection, employers have access to enrollment, billing and other features 24–hours a day, seven days a week at www.deltadentalia.com.

One feature of the Employer Connection allows employers to add, change and delete enrollees and dependents quickly and easily. To make changes to an enrollee or dependent, follow the directions below:

1. Go to www.deltadentalia.com and log into the Employer Connection (password and ID required)
2. Select Online Enrollment
   • To add an enrollee — select Add Employee, complete the online form, click Submit, verify the information and then click on Confirm.
   • To terminate an enrollee — enter member number or last name, click on Search to pull up record, select Terminate, complete termination screen and then click Submit.
   • To change an enrollee — enter the member number or last name, click on Search to pull up record, select Modify, revise the necessary data fields and then Submit Changes.

Using the Employer Connection helps keep information secure, reduces paper and helps you and Delta Dental go green. For more information on using the Employer Connection, go to www.deltadentalia.com/employer.

Non–Covered Services

Delta Dental of Iowa is committed to keeping dental care affordable and improving the oral health of Iowans. We have a strong network of dedicated participating dentists who provide quality services to your employees.

Starting this summer, Delta Dental will be re–contracting with participating dentists to implement a national non–covered services policy. This policy requires Delta Dental member companies to hold participating dentists to contracted fees for non–covered services (orthodontia, teeth whitening and implants). The policy will become effective January 1, 2010.

Delta Dental is implementing this policy to protect consumers from excessive fees for services that are not covered under their dental benefits. Watch for more information on this policy change in future issues of the Word of Mouth newsletter.

Brenda Lowe Recognized at National Delta Dental Conference

Delta Dental of Iowa Account Executive, Brenda Lowe, was recently recognized at the Delta Dental Plans Association National Sales Awards dinner and ceremony for her success in 2008. Brenda received two awards for bringing in a Delta 1300 national account and for her advancement to level three in the National Sales Program.

Billing Cycle for New Delta Dental Groups

When you are signing up new employer groups for Delta Dental benefits, keep in mind that Delta Dental requires premium payment at the beginning of the month. The employer group will receive their Delta Dental bill around the 15^th of the month prior to the effective date. Employer groups may need to adjust when premiums are deducted from their employees’ paychecks.

Chew on This: Delta Dental Broker Event July 31
Delta Dental will be hosting an educational event for brokers and agents on Friday, July 31 at the Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines. The event will feature nationally recognized dental expert, Maxwell Anderson, DDS, MS, MEd, who will present “Oral Health: Making the Connection for a Healthier Body.”

The presentation by Dr. Anderson will be eligible for 2 CEs. The day will also include an update for brokers and agents on new Delta Dental products that will be available for January 2010 renewals and sales.

If you are interested in attending, please contact Sharon Porter at sporter@deltadentalia.com or at 515–261–5581 to reserve your spot. Watch for more information in the next newsletter and a mailing in June.

Delta Dental Says Goodbye to Longtime Employee,
Jean Spurlock

With more than 36 years in the insurance industry, Jean Spurlock, Delta Dental’s Marketing Manager, retired at the end of April. Jean has been an integral part of the marketing department at Delta Dental since 1998. Prior to joining Delta Dental, Jean worked at Wellmark in marketing and underwriting for 23 years. Her future plans for retirement include relaxing, reading, traveling, golfing and spending time with her grandchildren.

Sherry Maly Joins Delta Dental of Iowa
Sherry Maly has joined Delta Dental as the Client Services Director. Sherry’s primary responsibilities will be to direct account management activities and renewals of Delta Dental’s large group accounts. Prior to joining Delta Dental, Sherry worked as a National Account Manager for Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. A graduate of Iowa State University, Sherry brings more than 20 years experience with a solid background in the health and welfare benefits industry.

Delta Dental Promotes E–Bills for Groups
Throughout 2009, Delta Dental has been promoting our “Go Electronic, Go Green” initiative to reduce costs and save paper. Starting in June, Delta Dental will be contacting groups to encourage them to sign up for online billing through the Employer Connection at www.deltadentalia.com.

We have also changed the group applications for both Large Groups (51+ eligible employees) and the Pooled Group/Voluntary Product (2 to 50 eligible employees). The new application requires that all new groups be set up to receive their monthly billing from Delta Dental online through the Employer Connection. The new application can be downloaded from the Broker Portal on the Delta Dental website at www.deltadentalia.com/broker.

For more information on using the Employer Connection, go to www.deltadentalia.com/employer and select the Employer Connection Demo.

Delta Dental Individual Product in Renewals
Delta Dental offers an individual product for retirees, self-employed and those without access to employer group dental benefits. Employers may want to provide terminated employees information on the Delta Dental individual product as an alternative to COBRA or retiree plans. Delta Dental has begun to insert the individual product brochure and a frequently asked question document in all group renewals.

For more information on the Delta Dental individual product, go to www.deltadentalia.com/individualdental or contact your Delta Dental representative.

Requesting a Subscriber ID Online
Employers occasionally get requests from employees for Delta Dental ID cards. Although an ID card is not needed to obtain services, employers can order an ID card from the online Employer Connection or the employee can print an ID card online through the Subscriber Connection. Below are the steps to order an ID card.

Employer Connection — ID Card Request

1. Log into the Employer Connection at www.deltadentalia.com (you will need a username and password).
2. Select Online Enrollment.
3. Enter the employee’s last name or member number and click on Search.
4. Click on ID Card.
5. Verify that the employee information is correct and click on Confirm.
6. Delta Dental will then receive the request for a new ID card and will send the ID card to the employee or employer within 7 days, depending on how the employer group is set up.

Subscriber Connection — ID Card Request

1. Log into the Subscriber Connection at www.deltadentalia.com (you will need a username and password).
2. Click on Print Information Card from the links listed on the middle of the page.
3. Print ID card.

Dental Benefits Important to Maintaining
Employee Productivity
Dental benefits promote not only oral health, but overall wellness. In fact, every dollar spent on prevention saves $4 in future treatment costs.¹

Studies have proven that individuals with dental benefits are almost twice as likely to visit the dentist than those without dental benefits.² Poor oral health increases employees’ time away from their jobs, which can have a negative impact on a company’s bottom line. Among adults, more than 164 million work hours are lost each year because of dental problems.³

Employers should encourage employees to use their dental benefits not only for their oral health, but for their overall health. Most Delta Dental plans cover a majority of preventive services with low out-of-pocket expenses for employees.

Contact your Delta Dental account executive on how your clients can maximize their dental benefit program.

¹ Business Courier, 2003
² The Long Group, 2008
³ Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health in America, 2000

Delta Dental Improving the Oral Health of Iowans
As a not–for–profit, Delta Dental of Iowa’s vision is to improve the oral health of the people we serve. Through the Delta Dental of Iowa Public Benefit Program and the newly formed Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation, we invest in oral health projects that make a measurable difference in the oral health of Iowans.

In 2008, Delta Dental provided more than $630,000 to fund oral health projects that provide access to care, prevention, education and research. Below are a few of the programs that received funding in 2008.

• Awarded two Loan Repayment grants to Dr. Kimberly Zimmerman of Emmetsburg and Dr. Sarah Jewett of Storm Lake.
• Provided funding to the Siouxland Community Health Center in Sioux City to buy equipment for a dental treatment room as part of its dental clinic expansion project.
• Sponsored the first Iowa Mission of Mercy held in Waterloo that provided free dental care to more than 1,200 Iowans.
• Provided funding to the University of Iowa to study fluoride and other factors in childhood and adolescent bone development.

For a complete listing of the almost 50 organizations that received funding in 2008, go to the Delta Dental website.

Need marketing materials on Delta Dental products?

Contact Delta Dental at marketing@deltadentalia.com or call us at 877-423-3582 to request marketing brochures on the following:

• Individual Product
• Small “Pooled” Group (2 to 50 Eligible Employees)
• Voluntary PPO
• ToGo^SM – Annual Maximum Carryover
• Oral Health Risk Assessment and Subscriber Connection (employee document)
• Employer Connection and Electronic Capabilities (group administrator document)

COBRA Premium Subsidy

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) contains a new COBRA provision that provides a 65% COBRA premium subsidy for eligible involuntarily terminated employees and their dependents. A cross–functional team at Delta Dental is working diligently to determine the roles and responsibilities of all entities and processes needed to implement the premium subsidy requirements. We will have a formal communication on this change in the near future.

Manage Client Benefits through Employer Connection

Throughout 2009, Delta Dental will be promoting our “Go Green, Go Electronic” initiatives that reduce paper and decrease costs by encouraging groups to utilize the Employer Connection. The Employer Connection allows employers to manage enrollment and billing online at www.deltadentalia.com. Our new business standard is to have all groups utilize our convenient and easy–to–use Employer Connection.

Brokers and agents are now able to manage their clients enrollment and billing through the Employer Connection (excludes voluntary groups). This is a great value–added service that you can offer, while helping clients transition to more effective and efficient methods for enrollment and billing.

If you are interested in providing online billing and enrollment services for your clients through the Delta Dental Employer Connection, please complete the Broker Access Authorization Form on the Delta Dental Broker Portal (you will need your username and password to access this form). The group must also provide Delta Dental with written authorization for you to access their account information.

For more information on the Employer Connection, contact Group Administration at 1-877-983-3582, email enrollment@deltadentalia.com or go to www.deltadentalia.com/employer to view a demo of the Employer Connection.

Ending Individual Catastrophic Plan

Effective March 31, 2009, Delta Dental of Iowa will discontinue its Catastrophic Plan for the individual product. Letters were sent in February to subscribers on the individual product Catastrophic Plan as a follow up to communications that were sent in November.

Subscribers on the Catastrophic Plan can do one of the following:

1. Switch to a different Delta Dental individual plan – Preferred Choice or Preventive.
2. Stay on the Catastrophic Plan until March 31, 2009. On April 1, 2009, subscribers on the Catastrophic Plan will automatically be terminated.
3. Cancel coverage of the Catastrophic Plan.

If we do not hear from the subscriber about changing plans or canceling, they will not have coverage after March 31, 2009.

If you have any questions about the Delta Dental individual dental product or if you would like to order additional marketing materials, please contact Vicki Vanderbilt (vvanderbilt@deltadentalia.com) at 515-261-5522.

Delta Dental Leads FIND Project to Help Rural Iowa

Delta Dental and the Iowa Rural Dental Health Initiative received federal funding to create Fulfilling Iowa’s Need for Dentists (FIND). The project is designed to alleviate the critical shortage of dentists in underserved Iowa counties by enhancing the Delta Dental of Iowa Loan Repayment Program.

The first recipient of the FIND project is Storm Lake dentist Dr. Sarah Jewett who received a $100,000 award for her dental educational loan debt reduction. This award is comprised of the Delta Dental of Iowa Loan Repayment Award of $50,000, $28,500 from community matching grants from various Storm Lake Community Corporate Partners and $21,500 from a congressional authorized grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

There will be three community matching loan repayment recipients through the FIND project. The goal is to place the other two dentists by August 2009. The Iowa Rural Dental Health Initiative’s FIND partners include Delta Dental of Iowa, Iowa Area Development Group, Ripple Effect, University of Northern Iowa Institute of Decision Making, Iowa Department of Public Health Oral Health Bureau and the University of Iowa College of Dentistry.

To be eligible for the loan repayment program, award recipients agree to practice in a designated dentist shortage area and devote at least 35 percent of their practice to Medicaid–eligible, elderly, disabled and other underserved patients over a three–year period. Fifty–five of Iowa’s 99 counties are designated as dentist shortage areas for the FIND project.

To learn more about FIND and the Delta Dental of Iowa Loan Repayment program, visit the Delta Dental website.