Elements of The Delta Difference

Seven factors contribute to The Delta Difference. They are experience, access, technology, service, value, national capabilities combined with local presence, and our mission. 

Experience
Delta Dental is the nation's largest, most experienced dental benefits carrier. Nationwide, Delta Dental has more than twice the market share of the next largest competitor. 

Delta Dental covers more than 45 million people in more than 76,000 accounts nationwide. Delta Dental covers one out of every four Americans with dental benefits. 

Delta Dental has an outstanding retention rate. More than 96% of customers renew each year.

Access
Delta Dental offers unrivaled dental networks, the largest in the nation. More than three out of four practicing dentists across the country participate in one or more of Delta Dental's networks. Delta Dental's provider networks serve all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. 

Delta Dental offers a variety of products:

• The DeltaPremier Plan is a managed fee-for-service program, with 141,000 dentist locations nationwide, and nearly 9,000 dentist locations in New Jersey and Connecticut. The DeltaPremier Plan is the largest network offered by any dental benefits carrier. DeltaPremier offers subscribers the freedom to choose any dentist, while providing incentives and lower-out-of-pocket costs with participating dentists. There is no balance billing. Also, network dentists are paid directly, so there's no paperwork for patients to file.

• Delta's Advantage Program is a popular option for groups whose members are located only in New Jersey. Delta's Advantage Program offers access to cost-efficient dental care provided on a fee-for-service basis, and a large network of participating dentists. It allows complete freedom of choice in dentist selection. Delta's Advantage Program network has grown 19% since 2002. There are 4,105 participating dentist locations in New Jersey.

• The DeltaPreferred Option program is a national preferred provider organization (PPO) program, with more than 66,000 dentist locations nationwide, and nearly 5,000 in New Jersey and Connecticut. DeltaPreferred Option is a point-of-service PPO. Subscribers have the freedom to choose any dentist, but lower out-of-pocket costs with in-network dentists. As with DeltaPremier, there is no balance billing. Network dentists are paid directly, reducing paperwork for patients.

• The DeltaPreferred Option point-of-service program features a unique "safety net" concept, which offers coverage under two DeltaUSA networks of dentists, DeltaPremier and DeltaPreferred Option. Delta Dental is the only dental carrier that provides coverage under two networks. This dramatically reduces the likelihood that a patient's dentist is out of network. There is only a 10% to 15% chance than a subscriber's chosen dentist is out of network. The out-of-network risk jumps to 60% to 75% with competitors' PPO plans. Subscribers receive significant discounts when they see DeltaPreferred Option providers. They also have access to the entire DeltaPremier network, and benefit from negotiated fees, no balance billing, and no paperwork.

• DeltaCare is a dental health maintenance organization, with more than 13,000 general and specialist dentist locations nationwide, and more than 600 in New Jersey and Connecticut. Patients select from a network of participating dentists for all dental services. There are many plan types available, no maximums or deductibles, and no paperwork for patients to file.

Technology
Delta Dental's technological capabilities set industry standards. 

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey offers Web-based tools for brokers, employers, subscribers and dentists through our Web site at www.deltadentalnj.com. 

Brokers and consultants may view current and past issues of Broker News and Consultant News online. They may also order forms and reports, find key contact information and locate other information about Delta Dental through the Brokers area of the Web site.

Benefits managers may submit eligibility changes online using our secure Administrator's Logon area of the Web site. They may also order reports and forms online in the Employers area of the Web site.

Subscribers may use our secure Benefits Connection feature to check their benefits and eligibility, track the status of claims and access Customer Service. They may also find a participating dentist, download forms and information, and research oral health information in the Subscribers area of the Web site.

Dentists may also use our secure Benefits Connection feature to check patient benefits and eligibility, track claim status and access Customer Service. In addition, they can also file claims online.

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey offers state-of-the-art claims processing. We processed more than 3 million claims in 2003, with more than 99% accuracy. More than 43% of claims were submitted online in 2003.

We also provide comprehensive, decision-driven reporting. These include customized reports for clients' needs, network utilization and access reports, comprehensive utilization reports, and financial reporting data. 

Service
Delta Dental is committed to providing the best service in the business. We have experienced, well-trained Customer Service and Claims professionals. We provide easy access to answers, either online at www.deltadentalnj.com, or through our toll-free telephone number, at (800) 452-9310. Most inquires are resolved on the first call or visit to www.deltadentalnj.com. 

We have outstanding claims turnaround time, with a 99+% accuracy rates. Nearly 90% of all claims are processed within 15 business days.

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey is consistently ranked by benefits managers and subscribers as a convenient, hassle-free plan. More than 90% of benefits managers are either satisfied or very satisfied with Delta Dental, according to surveys. More than 95% of subscribers say they are satisfied overall with Delta Dental.

Value
Our aggressive cost containment efforts saved our clients in New Jersey and Connecticut more than $164 million in 2003. The result was lower claim costs for employers and lower out-of-pocket costs for enrollees. These savings were achieved by:

• Contractual agreements with dentists that guarantee these dentists will accept payments based on Delta Dental's determination, abide by our processing policies, and not balance-bill patients.

• Processing policies that focus on preventing program abuse in areas such as procedure splitting, duplicate services and unnecessary services.

• Monitoring and review processes that focus on claim and utilization review, dental office audits to ensure participating dentists abide by their fee agreements, controlling fraud and abuse, and credentialing.

National capabilities, local presence
With Delta Dental, you have all the advantages of a national plan with local control and service.

The DeltaUSA program is designed to serve multistate employers. It offers employees at companies with operations across the country access to the nation's largest network of participating dentists. More than 29% of Fortune 500 companies have selected Delta Dental for their employees' dental benefits program. 

At the same time, plans also have a strong local presence. Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey's dental network coordinators actively recruit dentists into our network. We have an active credentialing program, and require that all participating dentists meet our credentialing requirements. We pride ourselves in having the most extensive network of participating dentists in New Jersey and Connecticut, as well as nationwide. 

Mission
The mission of Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey is "to promote oral health to the greatest number of people by providing accessible dental benefit programs of the highest quality, service, and value." We are dedicated to improving the oral health of Americans. Our Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey Foundation works to promote and assist educational projects devoted to the enhancement of dental health, as well as research programs designed to increase public awareness of the general benefits of good oral health and to improve dental health through the science of dentistry. Each year, the Foundation also provides financial support to various organizations throughout New Jersey to reach underserved populations.

Together, experience, access, technology, service, value, presence and mission combine to deliver The Delta Difference.