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Articles
Delta Dental's Online Eligibility Submissions
Feature Earns Raves from Users
2001 Annual Report Now Available
Gumkowski Promoted
Delta Dental Classic Raises $55,000 for Special
Olympics
Delta Dental Once Again Receives AA- Rating
from S&P
Staff Spotlight: Jacki Miller
We recently asked several benefits administrators
about their experiences with Delta Dental's online
eligibility submissions feature. Here's what they
said.
"In the past several years my district has
experienced numerous turnover in staff members. As
you can imagine, there is a lot of paperwork involved.
However, enrolling and terminating members via the
Delta Dental Web site has made this task extremely
easy. Within minutes I am able to enroll new members
and can print the list of new members I have enrolled
for accuracy. Viewing whether a particular dentist
is participating is also helpful."
-Sandy Zarate, Wharton Board of Education
"I like using the eligibility part of the Delta
Dental Web site. I'm glad that your enhancements
this year allow me to use the Internet for changes
as well as additions and terminations. The recap
is very useful, and the site is easy to navigate.
Thank you!"
-Jay Weissglass, Magruder Color Company, Inc.
"Having Delta Dental online has made the task
of updating eligibility information a breeze. I feel
confident in the changes I make online, and find
the Web site very useful in providing me up-to-date
information about our employees. Delta Dental online
has improved my job efficiency tremendously."
-Geri Alestra, Quick Chek Food Stores
"I used to submit eligibility changes by fax,
but decided to try Delta Dental's online eligibility
system because it sounded like less paperwork. I
discovered that online submissions are easier and
more convenient. I input the changes and know that
they will get processed. I don't have to wait by
the fax anymore to make sure the fax went through."
-Michelle Breiten, Burrelle's Information Services
"I'd only been with the company and in my position
a month when I decided to give Delta Dental's online
eligibility submissions a shot. It was a good idea.
There's less paperwork and mailing. Everything's
done right online. It's all very simple. I especially
like the accessibility of online."
-Maryann Hauck, Redi-Mail Direct Marketing/StayinFront
Delta Dental's online eligibility submissions feature
is easy to use, convenient and free. The system guides
users step-by-step through the process. For extra
help, there's also a quick reference guide online,
and a technical support hotline.
Benefits administrators can use the online eligibility
submissions feature to:
- Enroll and terminate subscribers
- Make changes, transfers and reinstatements
- View subscriber profiles online
To get started the first time, benefits administrators
must call 973-285-4119 or 973-285-4065 to obtain
a password. Once they have a password, they can visit
our Web site at www.deltadentalnj.com, click "Employers," log
on and make their changes. Users may submit eligibility
changes Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
EST.
This year's Annual Report highlights how Delta Dental
is using Internet technology to make it easier for
brokers, benefits managers, subscribers and dentists
to do business with us. In 2001, Delta Dental launched
our online eligibility submissions feature, which
enables benefits administrators to more easily manage
eligibility changes. In addition, we introduced "Benefits
Connection," the online service that makes it
possible for subscribers and their dentists to easily
receive instant, detailed information about their
Delta Dental benefits.
Other highlights of our 2001 Annual Report include:
- Achieving an impressive "AA-" Standard &
Poor's rating of our financial strength for the
second consecutive year.
- Adding close to 85,000 new subscribers, bringing
our subscriber base to an all-time high.
- Details on our Foundation's extensive community
outreach programs, which help deliver care to underserved
populations, support dental education and research,
raise public awareness, and assist worthwhile organizations.
To request a copy of our 2001 Annual Report, visit
our Web site at www.deltadentalnj.com and click on "Our
Company" on the navigation bar on the left side
of the home page.
John Gumkowski was promoted to Delta Dental's Director,
Sales and Marketing, effective September 2.
He joined Delta Dental in 1994 as an Account Executive
in our Connecticut office, bringing with him more
than 12 years of employee benefits experience. In
1998, Gumkowski was promoted to Marketing Manager.
During his tenure at Delta Dental, the Connecticut
office added more than 100,000 subscribers. In 1997,
1998, 1999, and 2000 Gumkowski was awarded the President's
Trophy for Outstanding Sales Performance.
In addition to his duties as Marketing Manager,
Gumkowski was chairman of the 2000 Delta Dental Tactical
Skills Meeting. He will continue to actively participate
with project and committee work relating to Delta
Dental's local and national marketing initiatives.
As Director, Sales and Marketing, Gumkowski will
continue to oversee the Connecticut Sales Office.
Additionally, he will be spending several days each
month in New Jersey working with our Account Executives
and interacting with various departments.
The Twelfth Annual Delta Dental Classic, which drew
128 golfers to the Cherry Valley Country Club on
June 4, raised $55,000 for Special Olympics programs.
Since the Delta Dental Classic began in 1991, the
event has raised more than $355,000 for Special Olympics
New Jersey.
Contest winners include:
1st Place Low Gross (Women): Dr. Leslie Skurla (89)
1st Place Low Gross (Men): James Armstrong (76)
1st Place Gross Team: Dick Schlott, Maury DiDomenico,
Jack Welch, Mike Gatto
Special thanks to all of our participants and sponsors.
The Thirteenth Annual Delta Dental Classic will
take place on Wednesday, June 4, 2003, at Fiddler's
Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Watch
for more details shortly.
Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey recently completed
Standard
& Poor's most comprehensive analysis and received
an AA- counterparty credit and financial strength
rating for the third straight year. The strong rating
confirms that Delta Dental is an attractive alternative
for businesses looking to improve benefits packages
through the implementation of a dental plan.
Based upon the analysis, Standard & Poor's predicts
a stable outlook for Delta Dental, citing its extremely
strong capitalization, excellent earnings, and good
business position as major rating factors. Delta
Dental has also been designated a Security Circle
insurer, which means that it voluntarily underwent
Standard & Poor's comprehensive analysis and
was assigned a rating in one of the top four categories
for financial security.
In the analysis, Standard & Poor's noted that
Delta Dental is extremely well capitalized, giving
the company a capital adequacy ratio of 474% as of
year-end 2001. This indicates that the not-for-profit
dental benefits carrier clearly has the financial
capacity to meet policy holder obligations. It was
also noted that Delta Dental is well positioned for
continued growth, anticipating a 10% increase in
membership in 2002.
"Affirmation of our financial stability, from
a premier independent organization such as Standard
and Poor's, is especially significant in today's
economy," said Delta Dental President and CEO
Walter VanBrunt. "This validation reflects our
commitment to a sound business philosophy based on
the principles of value and quality. The fact that
we've received the same high rating for three years
in a row is meaningful to our employees, current
and prospective clients, and the network of dentists
we do business with."
The rating is another reason for companies to contract
with Delta Dental for employee dental benefits. In
addition to enjoying the security of partnering with
a financially stable company, companies that contract
with Delta Dental may improve employee retention
and workplace efficacy by offering employees access
to the nation's largest dental network.
Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc. is New Jersey
and Connecticut's leading dental benefits carrier,
providing coverage to more than one million people
through contracts with employers in New Jersey and
Connecticut. The Delta Dental Plan system is a national
network of independently operated, not-for-profit
dental service corporations specializing in providing
dental benefits programs for employee groups throughout
the country.
Jacki Miller joined Delta Dental's Marketing Department
last September as a Service Coordinator for the Connecticut
market. As such, Miller supports the Connecticut
sales staff of John Gumkowski, Ed Maloney and Desiree
Fusco with new group orientations, health and benefit
fairs, and broker/client service support.
She has an extensive background in sales and marketing.
She has held positions as director of international
administration with Heublein and sales operations
manager with Selmix, two local manufacturers in Connecticut.
She received her bachelor of arts degree from the
University of Hartford, where she majored in fine
arts and minored in marketing.
"Joining Delta Dental is a new challenge in
a new marketplace for me," says Miller. "I
feel confident that my dedication and experience
in the area of sales support have already been, and
will continue to be, a positive contribution to the
Connecticut Sales Office."
Miller adds, "In addition to enrollment meetings
and health fairs, I've spent a great deal of my first
year with Delta Dental informing human resource managers
and benefit personnel of the ease of using our Online
Eligibility Submissions feature. This service enhancement
has been very well received by HR administrators.
Even those clients who were initially reluctant to
make changes are pleased with this timesaving, real-time
enrollment feature.
"Equally important, our end users/subscribers
are enjoying another Internet program called Benefits
Connection. This online program allows subscribers
to view their own eligibility and benefits online.
With the fall meeting season gearing up, I look forward
to meeting with subscribers to explain the newest
feature: claims inquiry.
"Whether it's the leading-edge technology or
consistent dedication to service performance, I find
Delta Dental to be a first-rate provider of dental
benefits, and I am very pleased to be a part of the
marketing team."
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