Covered California is seeing strong interest in a new optional dental benefit for adults. Offered for the first time for 2016, the program has attracted more than 33,000 signups since enrollment started Oct. 12.
About 26,000 current participants in the program and 6,000 new enrollees have elected to buy a dental plan, Covered California officials said Wednesday.
Covered California announced Wednesday that more than 33,000 people signed up for dental coverage since enrollment started Oct. 12.
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Covered California announced Wednesday that more than 33,000 people signed up for dental… more
About 26,000 current participants in the program and 6,000 new enrollees have elected to buy a dental plan, Covered California officials said Wednesday.
Covered California announced Wednesday that more than 33,000 people signed up for dental coverage since enrollment started Oct. 12.
Enlarge
Covered California announced Wednesday that more than 33,000 people signed up for dental… more
This is the first time adults can buy dental coverage as an add-on to health care benefits offered by the state health benefit exchange. Pediatric dental benefits for members under age 19 have been part of overall health coverage since the program launched in 2014. Open enrollment for coverage in 2016 started Nov. 1 and extends through Jan. 31.
“While we have long known that California consumers want insurance coverage for dental care, we have been surprised by the extraordinarily high enrollment, both by those who have health coverage through Covered California and by those signing up for coverage for the first time,” Covered California executive director Peter Lee said in a news release.
It was a long time coming. Dental plans have hammered the program to include their benefits since the exchange began making coverage decisions. Logistics — and a need to focus on ramping up core benefits — delayed the offering.
“While we have long known that California consumers want insurance coverage for dental care, we have been surprised by the extraordinarily high enrollment, both by those who have health coverage through Covered California and by those signing up for coverage for the first time,” Covered California executive director Peter Lee said in a news release.
It was a long time coming. Dental plans have hammered the program to include their benefits since the exchange began making coverage decisions. Logistics — and a need to focus on ramping up core benefits — delayed the offering.
“We are very encouraged by the numbers being reported to us by Covered California,” said Jeff Album, a spokesman for Delta Dental. Internal projections at Covered California estimated a 10 percent take up by new and renewing consumers, but “it looks like they’re getting 15 percent,” Album said. “Covered California has done a very good job preparing its website with comments on how to purchase and prepare for coverage. Hats off to them in the third year of open enrollment.”
Covered California’s estimate of Delta Dental enrollment shows about 23,000 of the 33,000 enrollees signed up so far have picked that plan, Album said. This may be good economic news for employment in the Sacramento region, as a Delta Dental call center in Rancho Cordova is one of several nationwide that serves its membership.
Five dental plans offer supplemental coverage through the exchange. Other plans include Access Dental Plan, Anthem Blue Cross of California, Dental Health Services and Premier Access.
Covered California’s estimate of Delta Dental enrollment shows about 23,000 of the 33,000 enrollees signed up so far have picked that plan, Album said. This may be good economic news for employment in the Sacramento region, as a Delta Dental call center in Rancho Cordova is one of several nationwide that serves its membership.
Five dental plans offer supplemental coverage through the exchange. Other plans include Access Dental Plan, Anthem Blue Cross of California, Dental Health Services and Premier Access.
Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2015/11/19/adult-dental-coverage-selling-well.html
In other dental news: Aurident offers the Optimet DS 6000 Scanner which uses patented proprietary conoscopic holographic technology to generate highly accurate and consistent scans.
The DS 6000 Scanner can be used for all dental applications such as copings, full contour crowns, bridges up to 14 units, implants, implant bars and dentures.
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