Dental plans: ranked by enrollment in L.A. County.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

ENROLLMENT in the 15 largest dental dental /den·tal/ (den´t'l) pertaining to a tooth or teeth.

den·tal
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or for the teeth.

2. Of, relating to, or intended for dentistry. plans in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County remained constant over the past year, with the greatest gain seen by the market leader.

No. 1 Delta Dental Delta Dental is the largest and oldest dental plan system in the United States. The Delta Dental Plans Association is comprised of 39 independent Delta Dental member companies operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. saw the largest increase in enrollment with 127,000 new members, solidifying so·lid·i·fy
v. so·lid·i·fied, so·lid·i·fy·ing, so·lid·i·fies

v.tr.
1. To make solid, compact, or hard.

2. To make strong or united.

v.intr. its position as the largest dental provider in the county. Guardian guardian

In law, one who has, or is legally appointed to, the care and management of another, usually a minor. A natural guardian is a guardian by natural relationship (usually the father or mother). Life Insurance Co. of America America [for Amerigo Vespucci], the lands of the Western Hemisphere—North America, Central (or Middle) America, and South America. The world map published in 1507 by Martin Waldseemüller is the first known cartographic use of the name. moved up five spots to No. 7 with a 38,000-person increase in enrollment. Universal Care Inc. also increased, rising two spots to No. 9.

Golden West Dental fell three places to No. 13 after losing just over 30,000 enrollees this past year. Blue Shield Blue Shield A US not-for-profit health care insurer that is a reimbursement intermediary for physicians. Cf Blue Cross. debuted at No. 14 on the list with 52,700 dental plan members.

Six of the 15 reported an increase in enrollment, six reported declines and three were essentially even.

THE TRENDS

[GRAPHICS OMITTED]

THE PACESETTER

DELTA DENTAL PLAN Delta Dental Plan,
n.pr an active member organization of the Delta Dental Plans Association (a not-for-profit organization), formed and guided by state dental societies to provide prepaid dental care to the public on a group basis. OF CALIFORNIA California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W).

THE largest dental plan in Los Angeles County is again Delta Dental of California, which has boosted its sizable siz·a·ble also size·a·ble
adj.
Of considerable size; fairly large.

siza·ble·ness n. lead over the nearest competitor by enrolling 127,000 more members in the year ended March 31.

The plan, also the largest in the state, now counts more than 3.8 million enrollees in L.A. County, or more than half of the total enrollees among the 15 largest dental plans in the county.

It was founded in 1955 as a nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive.

Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. dental insurance Dental insurance is insurance designed to pay the costs associated with dental care. Dental insurance pays a portion of the bills from dentists, hospitals, and other providers of dental services. provider, and 92 percent of the dentists Dentists can refer to one of the following:

Practitioners of dentistry
The Dentists, a British band active in the 1980s and 1990s

in California now participate in the plan. The company strengthened its hold on the dental coverage market by securing several large local accounts over the past year, including the city of Los Angeles

For the city, see Los Angeles, California.

The City of Los Angeles was a streamlined passenger train jointly operated by the Chicago and North Western Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad. , Children's Hospital A children's hospital is a hospital which offers its services exclusively to children. The number of children's hospitals proliferated in the 20th century, as pediatric medical and surgical specialties separated from internal medicine and adult surgical specialties. L.A. and Fox Entertainment, according to according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.

2. In keeping with: according to instructions.

3. spokeswoman Elizabeth Elizabeth, sister of King Louis XVI of France
Elizabeth, 1764–94, sister of King Louis XVI of France, known as Madame Elizabeth. Deeply loyal to her brother, she remained in France during the French Revolution, suffered imprisonment, and was Risberg.

In addition to programs for large organizations, Delta's growth has been spurred in recent years by a program for small businesses. Now in its fourth year, its Small Business Advantage program offers fee for service, preferred provider and HMO HMO health maintenance organization.

HMO
n.
A corporation that is financed by insurance premiums and has member physicians and professional staff who provide curative and preventive medicine within certain financial, coverage options to companies with from three to 99 employees.

Over the last year, that program saw an increase of 50,000 participants statewide, bringing. California enrollment close to 300,000. Fewer than 50 percent of the state's small businesses offer dental coverage.

Rank   Plan (Ranking in 2003)             Enrollment (1)      Dentists
       * name                           (current/year ago)   * current
       * address                          * L.A. County      * year ago
                                           * California
                                          * companywide

 1     Delta Dental of California (1)    3,837.3/3,710.5       6,533
       12898 Towne Center Drive           14,300/13,200        6,131
       Cerritos 90703                     17,700/16,900

 2     Aetna Dental Plans (6)              613.2/572.1         5,468
       1200 W. Seventh St.                 1,111/1,045         5,309
       Los Angeles 90017                  11,203/10,942

 3     MetLife Inc. (2)                    417.1/422.9         4,561
       1 City Blvd. W., Suite 850        1,990.1/2,001.5       4,230
       Orange 92868                       20,164/19,810

 4     PMI Dental Health Plan (5)          347.5/363.6         1,622
       12898 Towne Center Drive            928.1/998.1         1,579
       Cerritos 90703                      1,145/1,260

 5     Blue Cross of California            255.3/254.5         5,024
       Dental (7)                          938.5/935.4         3,909
       5171 Verdugo Way                  1,094.2/1,062.5
       Camarillo 93012

 6     United Concordia Insurance          208.6/198.5         5,907
       Company Inc. (4)                      680/616           5,449
       21700 Oxnard St., Suite 500         6,476/6,604
       Woodland Hills 91367

 7     Guardian Life Insurance              145/106.7          3,803
       Company of America (12)             629.8/561.5         3,259
       10880 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 800    5,253.2/4,785.9
       Los Angeles 90024

 8     PacifiCare Dental and Vision        118.6/147.5         4,063
       Administrators (9)                  533.8/436.8         5,329
       3110 Lake Center Drive              691.4/600.2
       Santa Ana 92704

 9     Universal Care Inc. (11)              111.4/98           652
       1600 E. Hill St.                    202.5/198.1          625
       Signal Hill 90755                   202.5/198.1

 10    Western Dental Services              92.2/91.9          1,202
       Inc. (13)                           346.7/315.8         1,151
       530 S. Main St., Sixth Floor        346.7/315.8
       Orange 92868

 11    Golden West Dental (10)              83.2/124.7         6,103
       5171 Verdugo Way                    243.7/270.9         5,089
       Camarillo 93012                      257/270.9

 12    GE Dental & Vision (14)                69/86            1,486
       30851 W. Agoura Road,                215.0/270          1,401
       Suite 300                              NA/NA
       Agoura Hills

 13    DentalPoint Inc. (15)                67.3/67.3          2,904
       8929 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 120      116.9/116.9         2,904
       Beverly Hills 90067                 921.5/921.5

 14    Blue Shield of California            52.7/107.9         7,557
       50 Beale St.                           NA/NA            5,900
       San Francisco 94105                 215.7/449.4

 15    Assurant Employee                     38/33.1           3,401
       Benefits (8) (2)                    189.4/187.5         2,191
       200 N. Sepulveda Blvd.,            4,304.4/4,724
       Suite 360
       El Segundo 90245

Rank   Plan (Ranking in 2003)                      Services
       * name
       * address

 1     Delta Dental of California (1)       group dental PPO, FFS
       12898 Towne Center Drive
       Cerritos 90703

 2     Aetna Dental Plans (6)             dental HMO, PPO, indemnity
       1200 W. Seventh St.
       Los Angeles 90017

 3     MetLife Inc. (2)                   dental PPO, indemnity, ASO
       1 City Blvd. W., Suite 850
       Orange 92868

 4     PMI Dental Health Plan (5)        individual and group dental
       12898 Towne Center Drive             HMO, group vision HMO
       Cerritos 90703

 5     Blue Cross of California                dental HMO, PPO,
       Dental (7)                              traditional, FFS
       5171 Verdugo Way
       Camarillo 93012

 6     United Concordia Insurance         dental HMO, PPO, indemnity
       Company Inc. (4)
       21700 Oxnard St., Suite 500
       Woodland Hills 91367

 7     Guardian Life Insurance             group dental PPO, DHMO,
       Company of America (12)                    indemnity
       10880 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 800
       Los Angeles 90024

 8     PacifiCare Dental and Vision      dental HMO, PPO, indemnity,
       Administrators (9)                discount access, vision HMO
       3110 Lake Center Drive
       Santa Ana 92704

 9     Universal Care Inc. (11)                   dental HMO
       1600 E. Hill St.
       Signal Hill 90755

 10    Western Dental Services               individual and group
       Inc. (13)                                  dental HMO
       530 S. Main St., Sixth Floor
       Orange 92868

 11    Golden West Dental (10)              dental HMO, PPO, FFS,
       5171 Verdugo Way                          vision, life
       Camarillo 93012

 12    GE Dental & Vision (14)              dental and vision HMO
       30851 W. Agoura Road,
       Suite 300
       Agoura Hills

 13    DentalPoint Inc. (15)                   dental PPO, EPO,
       8929 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 120        utilization review,
       Beverly Hills 90067                   claim administration

 14    Blue Shield of California                dental HMO,PPO
       50 Beale St.
       San Francisco 94105

 15    Assurant Employee                     dental PPO, prepaid,
       Benefits (8) (2)                      indemnity, voluntary
       200 N. Sepulveda Blvd.,
       Suite 360
       El Segundo 90245

Rank   Plan (Ranking in 2003)                      Profile
       * name                                    * parent co.
       * address                                * headquarters

 1     Delta Dental of California (1)                same
       12898 Towne Center Drive                 San Francisco
       Cerritos 90703

 2     Aetna Dental Plans (6)                     Aetna Inc.
       1200 W. Seventh St.                     Hartford, Conn.
       Los Angeles 90017

 3     MetLife Inc. (2)                          MetLife Inc.
       1 City Blvd. W., Suite 850                  New York
       Orange 92868

 4     PMI Dental Health Plan (5)         Delta Dental of California
       12898 Towne Center Drive                 San Francisco
       Cerritos 90703

 5     Blue Cross of California         WellPoint Health Neworks Inc.
       Dental (7)                               Thousand Oaks
       5171 Verdugo Way
       Camarillo 93012

 6     United Concordia Insurance                  Highmark
       Company Inc. (4)                       Harrisburg, Penn.
       21700 Oxnard St., Suite 500
       Woodland Hills 91367

 7     Guardian Life Insurance             Guardian Life Insurance
       Company of America (12)                  Co. of America
       10880 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 800              New York
       Los Angeles 90024

 8     PacifiCare Dental and Vision     PacifiCare Health Systems Inc.
       Administrators (9)                          Cypress
       3110 Lake Center Drive
       Santa Ana 92704

 9     Universal Care Inc. (11)                      same
       1600 E. Hill St.                          Signal Hill
       Signal Hill 90755

 10    Western Dental Services                       same
       Inc. (13)                                    Orange
       530 S. Main St., Sixth Floor
       Orange 92868

 11    Golden West Dental (10)          WellPoint Health Neworks Inc.
       5171 Verdugo Way                         Thousand Oaks
       Camarillo 93012

 12    GE Dental & Vision (14)          GE Partnership Marketing Group
       30851 W. Agoura Road,                   Schaumburg, Ill.
       Suite 300
       Agoura Hills

 13    DentalPoint Inc. (15)                         same
       8929 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 120               Fresno
       Beverly Hills 90067

 14    Blue Shield of California        California Physicians' Service
       50 Beale St.                             San Francisco
       San Francisco 94105

 15    Assurant Employee                        Assurant Inc.
       Benefits (8) (2)                        Kansas City, Mo.
       200 N. Sepulveda Blvd.,
       Suite 360
       El Segundo 90245

Rank   Plan (Ranking in 2003)                     Web Site
       * name
       * address

 1     Delta Dental of California (1)        deltadentalca.org
       12898 Towne Center Drive
       Cerritos 90703

 2     Aetna Dental Plans (6)                    aetna.com
       1200 W. Seventh St.
       Los Angeles 90017

 3     MetLife Inc. (2)                  metlifeiseasier.com/dental
       1 City Blvd. W., Suite 850
       Orange 92868

 4     PMI Dental Health Plan (5)          deltadentalca.org/pmi
       12898 Towne Center Drive
       Cerritos 90703

 5     Blue Cross of California               bluecrossca.com
       Dental (7)
       5171 Verdugo Way
       Camarillo 93012

 6     United Concordia Insurance                 ucci.com
       Company Inc. (4)
       21700 Oxnard St., Suite 500
       Woodland Hills 91367

 7     Guardian Life Insurance                guardianlife.com
       Company of America (12)
       10880 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 800
       Los Angeles 90024

 8     PacifiCare Dental and Vision        pacificare-dental.com
       Administrators (9)
       3110 Lake Center Drive
       Santa Ana 92704

 9     Universal Care Inc. (11)              universalcare.com
       1600 E. Hill St.
       Signal Hill 90755

 10    Western Dental Services               westerndental.com
       Inc. (13)
       530 S. Main St., Sixth Floor
       Orange 92868

 11    Golden West Dental (10)              goldenwestdental.com
       5171 Verdugo Way
       Camarillo 93012

 12    GE Dental & Vision (14)             gedentalandvision.com
       30851 W. Agoura Road,
       Suite 300
       Agoura Hills

 13    DentalPoint Inc. (15)                  dentalpoint.com
       8929 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 120
       Beverly Hills 90067

 14    Blue Shield of California               mylifepath.com
       50 Beale St.
       San Francisco 94105

 15    Assurant Employee                assurantemployeebenefits.com
       Benefits (8) (2)
       200 N. Sepulveda Blvd.,
       Suite 360
       El Segundo 90245

Rank   Plan (Ranking in 2003)           Top Local Executive
       * name                           * name
       * address                        * title
                                        * phone

 1     Delta Dental of California (1)   Steve Spigarelli
       12898 Towne Center Drive         director, sales So. Cal.
       Cerritos 90703                   (562) 403-4040

 2     Aetna Dental Plans (6)           Ken Lautsch
       1200 W. Seventh St.              market head of sales and
       Los Angeles 90017                service
                                        (213) 988-3000

 3     MetLife Inc. (2)                 Mark Rosenthal
       1 City Blvd. W., Suite 850       market director
       Orange 92868                     (877) 638-2862

 4     PMI Dental Health Plan (5)       Belinda Martinez
       12898 Towne Center Drive         senior vice president
       Cerritos 90703                   (562) 924-8311

 5     Blue Cross of California         Dave Helwig
       Dental (7)                       ceo, president
       5171 Verdugo Way                 (213) 553-5451
       Camarillo 93012

 6     United Concordia Insurance       Len Matuszak
       Company Inc. (4)                 v.p., Calif. operations
       21700 Oxnard St., Suite 500      (800) 876-6432
       Woodland Hills 91367

 7     Guardian Life Insurance          Arthur Stern
       Company of America (12)          regional manager
       10880 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 800   (310) 473-3399 x201
       Los Angeles 90024

 8     PacifiCare Dental and Vision     John Whalley
       Administrators (9)               general manager, senior v.p.
       3110 Lake Center Drive           (800) 622-6388
       Santa Ana 92704

 9     Universal Care Inc. (11)         Jay B. Davis
       1600 E. Hill St.                 exec. vice president
       Signal Hill 90755                (562) 424-6200

 10    Western Dental Services          Samuel H. Gruenbaum
       Inc. (13)                        ceo, president
       530 S. Main St., Sixth Floor     (714) 417-4444
       Orange 92868

 11    Golden West Dental (10)          Chris McConathy
       5171 Verdugo Way                 sales director
       Camarillo 93012                  (800) 995-4124 x3754

 12    GE Dental & Vision (14)          Orlando Zayas
       30851 W. Agoura Road,            general manager
       Suite 300                        (800) 568-1946
       Agoura Hills

 13    DentalPoint Inc. (15)            Jerry Levey
       8929 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 120   president
       Beverly Hills 90067              (310) 553-5876

 14    Blue Shield of California        Jim Hager
       50 Beale St.                     director, health ancillary
       San Francisco 94105              products
                                        (415) 229-5000

 15    Assurant Employee                Jan Stanley
       Benefits (8) (2)                 vice president
       200 N. Sepulveda Blvd.,          (800) 992-5447
       Suite 360
       El Segundo 90245

NA - Not Available

(1) In thousands..

(2) Listed as Fortis Benefits Insurance Co. last year.

Abbreviations for services:

FFS - Fee for Service

PPO - Preferred Provider Organization

HMO - Health Maintenance Organization

ASO - Administrative Services Only

EPO - Exclusive Provider Organization

Information on this list was supplied by the companies themselves.
Cigna Dental Health of California, No. 3 on last year's list, may
have qualified for thie year's list but failed to submit information.
To the best of our knowledge, this information is accurate as of
press time. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and
thoroughness of the list, omissions and typographical errors
sometimes occur. Please send corrections or additions on company
letterhead to the Research Department, Los Angeles Business Journal,
5700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 170, Los Angeles 90036. [c] 2004 Los
Angeles Business Journal. This list may not be reprinted in whole
or in part without prior written permission from the editor.
Reprints are available from Wright's Reprints, (877) 652-5295.

Researched by Nicole Taylor, David Nusbaum

COPYRIGHT 2004 CBJ, L.P.
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.

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Title Annotation:	The List; Los Angeles; rankings
Author:	Nusbaum, David
Publication:	Los Angeles Business Journal
Article Type:	Illustration
Geographic Code:	1U9CA
Date:	Sep 6, 2004
Words:	2069
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