DELTA DENTAL LAUNCHES ONLINE ELIGIBILITY ENROLLMENT

PARSIPPANY, NJ (October 2001) – Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey (Delta Dental) launched its online eligibility system, a new Web-based service which simplifies and expedites the task of eligibility enrollment for human resource professionals. The new system, which has gone through months of testing by a group of actual benefits administrators to ensure that it is both intuitive and easy to use, provides benefits managers with an improved means to make all of their eligibility changes online, in one system. The new online feature is accessible from Delta Dental's Web site (www.deltadentalnj.com) and is part of ongoing efforts by the state's leading and largest dental benefits carrier to continually meet the changing needs of its customers.

In the past, eligibility changes were sent to Delta Dental in a variety of ways, including faxes, e-mails, phone calls, and letters. Often, handwritten changes required follow-up phone calls to confirm information, which delayed the modifications being made. Online eligibility enrollment eliminates this step so that changes can be made in real time. The online system, accessible to benefits administrators through a password-protected, secure area of Delta Dental's Web site, even prompts users if they forget to include any necessary information to ensure accuracy.

"Our customers have told us that they would like to use the Internet more often in the administration of employee benefits," said Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey President and CEO Walter VanBrunt. "Our online eligibility submission option makes processing information faster and easier for both benefits managers and the Delta Dental customer service staff."

The online eligibility system can be used to enroll and terminate subscribers; make changes, transfers and reinstatements; view subscriber profiles online; and view, print and save submissions logs. Eligibility changes, which are easily managed directly from the benefits manager's desktop, often take effect in less than 24 hours. The system also simplifies record keeping by allowing benefits managers to easily view their submissions and profiles, and print and/or save files.

Feedback from benefit administrators who have tested and now use the system has been extremely positive. Jay Roger Weissglass, Personnel Director, Magruder Color Co., Inc. said, "I have been with Delta Dental for a few years and have used paper as well as the older version of their Web site to update my information. This new enhancement is great! It is not only easy to use, but the ability to see a recap of your submissions is very helpful. It is also good that we can now go online for changes as well as additions/terminations. I used to update once per month when I received my bill, but now I can update as needed which is very helpful to me as well as to my employees. Keep up the good work! Thank you!"

Priscilla M. Morrissette, Benefit Specialist, Cooper Health System, echoed those sentiments. "The new online eligibility submission is just wonderful. It is very easy to update employees' dental coverage. Makes my job simpler. I just want to express my thanks to Delta Dental."

For more information about Delta Dental's online eligibility enrollment, please visit www.deltadentalnj.com or call 973-285-4065 or 973-285-4119.

Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey, Inc., is New Jersey’s leading and largest 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. For more information visit us on the Web at www.deltadentalnj.com.