More Than A Number

Despite the recent trend towards rising dental insurance, certain companies are bucking the trend and keeping prices competitive for their clients. One company is Delta Dental insurance, who announced in July 2009 that they would be freezing rates for small-employer group plans for the third straight year. This is despite an increase in overall dental costs that some analysts believe will be as high as 6.75 percent, a number that has a major impact in determining premium costs.

With more than 34,000 subscribers in group and individual dental plans, Delta officials believe they can spread out the risk over a large group. Delta Dental President and CEO Bernard Glossy says that freezing costs helps small business owners as they deal with the current economic situation and rising overall costs. Customers of Delta Dental are happy with the news, as premiums for other forms of insurance have been rising – for example, Blue Cross of Arizona is raising its premiums by 3 percent over the next year.