As an employer, you may think that bigger means better in terms of the number of providers who take that insurance. And sometimes it does. But “the reality is that network size does not necessarily lead to quality and access.”
“Having the right selection of providers at the right price,” is what matters most to your employees. So look beyond just the size of the network and include other network factors that affect you and your employees. The more employees who can stay with their current dentist, the less disruption they experience and the more likely they are to continue getting regular preventive care.
A few other things to keep in mind:
• Consider dependents
The network size should be large enough to meet the needs of your employees and their dependents. Does the network include pediatric specialists? Orthodontists? Periodontists? Look at a history of past claims from your employees to see what kinds of services they are seeking.
• Location, location, location
It’s advantageous to have at least 2 dental offices in the network within 5 or 10 miles of your office. (Less time out of the office for dental visits.) So make sure that the carriers you are considering can offer this geographical access with their provider network.
• Share the benefits
Let employees know the benefits of network size and how that translates into more savings for them.
° Delta Dental PPO network has more than 95,000 providers nationwide.
° Delta Dental Premier network is the largest provider network in the country, with nearly 145,000 participating dentists.
° Delta Dental’s PPO plan delivers the industry’s best effective discount — averaging 20.3 percent nationally on all claims paid — resulting in nearly$3 billion in annual savings.
Know the value of your network…not just the size.