SAN FRANCISCO--Delta Dental Plan of Puerto Rico has announced that it is joining longtime business partner, Delta Dental of California, as an affiliate of the company's $5.1 billion holding company system.
Company officials say the effect will be to infuse the Puerto Rican company with the administrative systems and marketing know-how of a large, integrated multi-state dental benefits system, while adding momentum to that system's Hispanic marketing initiative.
"By welcoming Delta Dental Plan of Puerto Rico into our group of dental plans, we look to extend dental benefits to many more Puerto Rican residents and businesses, consistent with our effort throughout our enterprise to offer dental benefits tailored specifically for Spanish-speaking enrollees," said Gary D. Radine, president and CEO of Delta Dental of California and its larger holding company system, now with 22 million enrollees under coverage.
Radine, who becomes chairman of the board of directors for Delta Dental Plan of Puerto Rico, says the move promotes administrative efficiency that should help make Delta Dental products more competitive in Puerto Rico.
"Delta Dental Plan of Puerto Rico has about 240,000 enrollees, and we look forward to building on that very strong foundation in the future," he said.
With an operating territory that includes California, Florida, New York, Texas and now Puerto Rico, the affiliated group of Delta Dental Plans is proactively looking to fill gaps in the marketplace where there are significant unserved Hispanic populations.
"Our enterprise is actively developing--and to a great extent already offers--Spanish-language advertising, web and phone services, and documents in Spanish that clearly communicate how our products work to improve oral health," said Radine.
Delta Dental Plan of Puerto Rico includes within its Delta Dental Premiersm fee-for-service network 1,854 dentist locations--nearly 95 percent of all locations in the territory. Of these, 1,495 dentist locations are considered part of the Delta Dental PPO network. This allows enrollees to minimize their out-of-pocket costs while preserving their freedom to choose from any licensed dentist for care.
Delta Dental of California and its new affiliate, Delta Dental Plan of Puerto Rico, are part of a holding company system that also operates in 15 states plus the District of Columbia. Delta Dental of California and its holding company hold an "A-" (excellent) rating from AM Best. They are also part of the Delta Dental Plans Association, based in Oak Brook, Ill.
DDPA consists of 39 Delta Dental member companies licensed in all 50 states. The association collectively covers about 50 million of the 170 million people nationwide with private dental insurance, making it the largest national system of dental plans.
