Dental Finance Options Announces Relationship with Aetna for Patient Financing Program.

AUSTIN, Texas & LOS ANGELES -- Dental Finance Options (DFO) has announced a new patient financing program offered through dentists participating in Aetna dental networks. The program offers some of the most competitive financing options in the patient financing industry and is available to all patients of enrolled dentists. Aetna contracted with DFO to provide an exclusive program for patient financing to its nationwide dental networks.

"As out-of-pocket costs increase and more patients seek cosmetic dental services, a competitive financing option is a must-have practice management tool in any dentist's office," says Charlie Ray, Vice President of DFO. Patient financing plans offer dental patients flexible payment options while eliminating the burden of collections.

The program offers a comprehensive financing option for all of their patients with competitive fees and same-as-cash financing options. Patient financing is an option for long-range treatment plans such as orthodontia and new technological advances in dentistry, as well as for cosmetic procedures and other out-of-pocket dental expenses. The program requires no special equipment; there is no enrollment fee, and no obligation or activity requirements once dentists enroll.

"Aetna Dental is always looking for ways to ease administration for participating dentists and to offer additional services to our members that help provide access to dental care," said Pat Farrell, head of Aetna's Specialty Product Business Unit which includes Aetna Dental.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such an esteemed organization as Aetna and its nationwide networks of dentists," says Ray. "The availability of financing in any dental practice location offers flexible payment options for out-of-pocket expenses and reduces the financial strain on patients. All of these are good things and they are only available through this arrangement with Aetna Dental."

As one of the nation's leading providers of health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability and long-term care benefits, Aetna puts information and helpful resources to work for its approximately 14.435 million medical members, 12.9766 million dental members, 9.117 million pharmacy members and 14.435 million group insurance members to help them make better informed decisions about their health care and protect their finances against health-related risks. Aetna provides easy access to cost-effective health care through a nationwide network of more than 684,000 health care professionals, including over 405,000 primary care and specialist doctors and 4,135 hospitals. For more information, please visit www.aetna.com (Figures as of September 30, 2004).

Dental Finance Options, LLC is a privately held company headquartered in Austin, Texas with operations in Los Angeles, California. Since 2001, DFO has offered patient financing to general and specialty dentists nationwide. In addition to patient financing, DFO offers professional practice financing, credit card processing and other value added financial service products to the dental professional. For more information, please visit www.dentalfinanceoptions.com.