Delta Dental Introduces International Referral Service; Partnership with I-SOS Makes Finding a Dentist Overseas Easier for Millions.

SAN FRANCISCO -- From Austria to Zimbabwe, enrollees of Delta Dental of California, Pennsylvania, affiliated companies or ones administered by them now have easier access to thousands of dentists worldwide with help from an English-language referral service available 24/7 to assist them.

The new dental referral service is the product of a partnership between affiliated Delta Dental Plans in 15 states plus New York and the District of Columbia, and International SOS Assistance, Inc. (I-SOS). The service is provided automatically at no additional cost to all the affected Delta Dental groups and individuals under coverage.

News of the value-added service affects approximately 14 million commercial enrollees in some of the nation's most populous states, which along with California and Pennsylvania include New York, Florida, Georgia and Texas, among others. Enrollees with Delta Dental's two main fee-for-service programs, Delta Dental Premier or Delta Dental PPO, are eligible for the service under their program's out-of-network benefits. DeltaCare USA enrollees, whose program is administered by PMI Dental Health Plan, a wholly owned affiliate of Delta Dental of California offered in several states, are covered under their program's out-of-area emergency benefit.

"This new service meets the needs of employers with employees working overseas, and of enrollees in need of dental services while traveling," said Marilynn Belek, DMD, executive vice president and chief dental officer for Delta Dental. "We have long provided coverage for services outside the U.S., but I-SOS makes it more convenient to harness that coverage overseas," said Dr. Belek.

Enrollees in search of a dentist while overseas can now get connected with an English-speaking operator 24/7 by calling I-SOS collect at [phone]. A toll-free number at [phone] is also provided for inquiries within the United States. Members must identify themselves as Delta Dental enrollees when they call.

Delta Dental of California, Pennsylvania, New York and affiliated operations in 16 states plus the District of Columbia are all part of the Delta Dental Plans Association, the nation's largest dental benefits system, which jointly covers about 46 million of the estimated 160 million Americans with dental insurance.

International SOS is the world's largest medical assistance company, and the leading provider of remote site medical services. I-SOS offers a similar referral service to enrollees covered by the Delta Dental Plans of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.