Delta Dental Plans of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana Offer Worldwide Emergency Dental Treatment for Members.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

OKEMOS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2002

Emergency dental treatment is now available for Delta Dental members while traveling or working abroad.

The exclusive benefit, offered by the affiliated Delta Dental Plans of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in countries located on nearly every continent.

The special coverage, at no additional cost to the employee or employer, is offered through a partnership with Delta Dental Plan of Minnesota and Europ Assistance. Formed in France nearly 40 years ago, Europ Assistance is the world's leading supplier of assistance and related insurance services. It has developed a worldwide network of credentialed dentists who have agreed to provide emergency dental treatment to eligible Delta Dental subscribers while traveling or working abroad.

Members dial a number in the country where they are located to make arrangements with an English-speaking customer service representative who will direct them to a credentialed dentist. They are fully covered for emergency treatment as long as they see a Europ Assistance participating dentist.

"Finding dental help in other countries can be a challenging experience, especially if travelers or workers are unfamiliar with the language or customs," said Thomas J. Fleszar, president and chief executive officer of the affiliated Delta Dental Plans of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. "We are pleased to be able to offer one-call assistance around the world, from Andorra to Venezuela."

"We are pleased to partner with the affiliated Delta Dental Plans of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana in extending this service to their subscribers," said Michael F. Walsh, president and CEO of Delta Dental Plan of Minnesota. "It is easy to access, covers more than 130 countries and is the only program of its kind in the nation."

Companies with Delta Dental coverage will be able to provide their employees with Europ Assistance telephone number cards to carry with them when they travel. Additional information, including a directory of credentialed dentists, is available on Delta Dental's websites at www.deltadentalmi.com (Michigan), www.deltadentaloh.com (Ohio) and www.deltadentalin.com (Indiana).

The affiliated Delta Dental Plans of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana make up the leading group dental benefits provider in the Midwest. Last year the company paid nearly $1 billion for dental treatment for more than 4.5 million members. Considered an industry leader in dental benefit design, claims administration and cost management, the company provides coverage for over 4,500 groups including General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and the State of Michigan. The company's corporate headquarters is located in Okemos, Michigan with offices in Farmington Hills and Grand Rapids, Michigan; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; and, Indianapolis, Indiana.