Scientific research leads to new benefit plans at Delta Dental of North Carolina
10/10/2011
RALEIGH, N.C., (Oct. 10, 2011) — Delta Dental of North Carolina is offering new dental plan designs with enhanced preventive benefits to improve the health of people with specific high-risk medical conditions.
“Scientific research shows that an individual’s oral health can have a significant impact—either helpful or harmful—on other health conditions,” said Dr. Jed Jacobson, chief science officer of Delta Dental of North Carolina. “We are offering our customers the opportunity to include enhanced benefits for their at-risk employees because improved oral health can help individuals better manage these conditions and reduce costs.”
Under the new standard benefit plans, which are available now, individuals with the following at-risk conditions are eligible for coverage of up to four routine teeth cleanings or four periodontal maintenance cleanings per benefit period:
- Diabetics with periodontal disease
- Pregnant women with periodontal disease
- Individuals at risk for infective endocarditis
- Individuals with renal failure/dialysis
- Individuals with suppressed immune systems, from chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment, HIV positive status, organ transplant and stem cell (bone marrow) transplant
- Head and neck radiation patients
Head and neck radiation patients are also eligible for coverage of professionally applied fluoride treatments up to twice per benefit period.
“By having their teeth professionally cleaned more often, at-risk individuals can help reduce the build-up of bacteria in their mouth, which can contribute to these medical conditions,” Jacobson said. “This can result in a great return on investment from your dental plan in terms of overall health improvement and potentially lower health care costs.”
Another new benefit takes aim at the deadly problem of oral cancer. Standard Delta Dental plans also now cover the BrushTest, an oral brush biopsy that uses advanced technology to identify and analyze cancerous and precancerous cells.
“Oral cancer is one of the costliest cancers to treat, and its impact is devastating, claiming as many lives as skin cancer each year,” Jacobson added. “Early detection is critical, and the BrushTest plays an important role in doing so.”
About Delta Dental of North Carolina
Delta Dental of North Carolina, with its affiliates in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Tennessee, is one of the largest dental plan administrators in the nation. In 2010, the enterprise paid out more than $2.1 billion for dental care for nearly 8 million enrollees. Offices are located in Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.; Indianapolis and Greenwood, Ind.; Louisville, Ky.; Okemos and Farmington Hills, Mich.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; and Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis, Tenn.