Delta Dental Promotes Preventive Dental Care With Additional Benefit Available To AARP Members

Delta Dental Promotes Preventive Dental Care With Additional Benefit Available To AARP Members
February 14, 2008
Medical News Today

AARP Services Inc. and Delta Dental Insurance Company announced that the AARP Dental Insurance Plans administered by Delta Dental now include a third annual cleaning as a covered benefit.

"Our members continue to cite dental benefits as one of their most pressing needs and areas of concern," said John Wider, vice president of Health Products and Services, AARP Services Inc. "Expanding the program to deliver additional preventive services adds value for our members and supports a holistic strategy to promote overall health."

Maintaining optimal oral health not only gives beneficiaries a brighter, healthier smile, but may also help them fend off many potentially chronic diseases. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, research indicates a link between periodontal disease and many serious health conditions.

"There is increasing evidence that poor dental health is associated with several serious and chronic medical conditions, so the opportunity to provide more coverage for preventive dental care in the plan benefit design should boost the overall value of the AARP Dental Insurance program, which has proven effective and affordable for many members," said Lowell Daun, DDS, a senior vice president with Delta Dental.

Preventive appointments are invaluable in identifying dental problems which, if left undiagnosed and untreated, may become more serious and more costly to treat. New enrollees of the program are eligible for the third cleaning in their first year of coverage. Existing AARP enrollees who renew their membership in the Delta Dental plan automatically receive the benefit upgrade.

The AARP-branded Delta Dental program targets millions of 50-plus Americans who lack or face losing employer-sponsored dental coverage upon retirement. Those individuals face limited choices when it comes to dental insurance, often plans that are restricted access, HMO-type programs available only in large metropolitan areas.

The AARP Dental Insurance Plans from Delta Dental feature comprehensive family coverage and the freedom to choose any licensed dentist. Rates average around $43 per month for single coverage, with premiums discounted for two-person and family coverage. Actual costs vary depending on where AARP members live, and the prevailing regional cost of dental care.

News of the added benefit comes as the affordable, voluntary dental program, managed through subsidiary AARP Services exceeds 200,000 participants in all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

For more information about the AARP Dental Insurance Plans, visit http://www.deltadentalins.com/aarp .