October 6 , 2005

Mechanicsburg, PA — Delta Dental of Pennsylvania announced today an expansion of its community contributions program, resulting in even greater support for dental clinics in five states and Washington D.C., that address the unmet dental needs of low-income, working families.

Company officials, who also administer Delta Dental benefits in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New York and West Virginia, are committing $225,000 this year in the form of grants to dental clinics that provide care directly to those who lack access to affordable treatment. The list of clinics receiving funds include 12 in Pennsylvania, three in New York, two in Delaware and one each in Maryland, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

“We are keeping our focus on supporting dental professionals who provide care directly to those who would not otherwise be able to afford treatment,” said Marilynn Belek, DMD, Delta Dental’s chief dental officer. “We recognize that a significant number of untreated Americans are working people who do not have dental insurance, cannot afford to buy coverage, and are ineligible for government-supported insurance programs.”

According to a report from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, 18.5 million adult workers were uninsured in 2001, as were many additional millions of dependent spouses and children. This, according to the report, is because “…not all businesses offer health benefits, not all workers qualify for coverage, and many employees cannot afford their share of the premiums.” Public health advocates estimate there are roughly twice as many Americans without dental insurance as there are without medical benefits.

In response, Delta Dental has awarded grants ranging in size from $5,000 to $30,000 to clinics specializing in outreach to low-income, working families. In Pennsylvania, these clinics are based in Towanda, West Chester, Reading, Warren, Harrisburg, Southampton, Lancaster, Bethlehem, Erie, Williamsport and Pottstown; in New York they are in Buffalo, Ossining and Schenectady; in Delaware they are in Georgetown and Wilmington; and in West Virginia, in Charleston and Huntington. See this page for a complete list of the selected clinics and organizations.

The holding company system that includes Delta Dental of Pennsylvania and Delta Dental of California will collectively contribute nearly $400,000 this year to dental clinics that offer care to low-income patients. Additional contributions will support the distribution of oral health services and supplies, educational scholarships for promising dental students and continuing education for dental professionals. Total charitable contributions from the enterprise, including in-kind services, are estimated to exceed $1.5 million.

Delta Dental of Pennsylvania and its affiliates are part of the Delta Dental Plans Association, the nation’s largest dental benefits system, which jointly covers about 50 million of the estimated 160 million Americans with dental insurance.