Largest Dental Insurer Providing Rate Stability in Uncertain Times

In response to the unprecedented challenges Arizona businesses are facing due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the state’s largest dental insurer is giving its clients one less thing to worry about by freezing rates for summer renewals.

“This is a time of great uncertainty. Business owners and leaders are working hard to balance the needs of their business while supporting their employees. Worrying about the cost of their benefits package is an added stress they don’t need right now—and we quickly realized that’s a stressor we can remove from the equation,” said Allan Allford, CEO of Delta Dental of Arizona.

Current Delta Dental of Arizona clients with 2-199 enrolled employees renewing their PPO dental and/or vision plans May 1 through August 1, 2020 will not get an increase in rates and will continue to benefit from the same competitive premium rate they had for another 12 months.

“This decision aligns well with our mission to improve lives by promoting optimal oral health for all Arizonans,” Allford said. “When we are past this crisis, there will be considerable need for dental care that was postponed. Studies show that adults with dental coverage are twice as likely to see a dentist than uncovered adults. Adults who visit the dentist regularly have better oral and overall health, so continuous coverage is a priority.”

This is the second time the dental insurance carrier has offered across-the-board rate passes on a large segment of its business. In December 2018, the insurer announced a 12-month freeze on renewal rates for its pooled group PPO dental rates to limit the burden of rising healthcare costs.

Delta Dental of Arizona is the leading dental benefits provider in Arizona, serving more than 1.2 million enrollees and more than 3,500 contracted dentists across the state. Passionate about oral health and its importance to generations of families, Delta Dental of Arizona has worked for more than 45 years to improve oral health by emphasizing preventive care and making dental coverage accessible to a wide variety of employers, groups and individuals. Since 2010, Delta Dental of Arizona, through its Foundation, gave $7 million to support oral health education and disease prevention programs for underserved and uninsured communities across the state. For more information about Delta Dental of Arizona, visit www.deltadentalaz.com