2019 ANNUAL REPORT
2019 Annual Report
The simple equation of Smile Power™
A Message from our CEO
Every team member here at Delta Dental of Colorado knows that my favorite saying is 1+1=3. Essentially, that means we have more collective impact when we work together. And when we work closely with our members, providers, employers, brokers, and community partners we can make dental benefits easier to use, increase access to dental services, and improve the oral health of the communities we serve.
I look at Smile Power as a similar kind of equation. Delta Dental of Colorado gives our members the power to use and manage their dental benefits easily, which equals better oral and overall health. Then we add innovative plans, a large provider network, and expert customer service, which equals accessible, affordable, and simple dental care. And all of that adds up to a healthier smile and a healthier life!
As a nonprofit dental benefits provider, we want to give everyone in Colorado the power of a healthy smile, and, to do that, we offer a spectrum of products and services from group plans, individual and family plans, on-exchange plans, Medicare plans, and we work with our community partners to help those in our cities and towns who don't have access to health insurance by funding hygienists in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) through our foundation and events like Colorado Mission of Mercy free dental clinics.
Your oral health is strongly connected to your overall health, which is why we put people and prevention first. Thank you to all of our members, providers, employers, brokers, and community partners who are a huge part of the Smile Power equation! Together we can make 1+1=3.
About Us
Delta Dental of Colorado is a nonprofit dental benefits company with a mission to improve the oral health of the communities we serve...something we take very seriously. We give our more than 1.3 million members the power to use and manage their dental benefits easily. Through our innovative plans, large dentist network, and expert customer service, we make dental care accessible, affordable, and simple, leading to a healthier smile and life. And through our foundation and corporate social responsibility initiatives, we are active in the community and give to organizations that support our mission and help expand access to quality dental care. Creating healthy Colorado smiles is what drives us.
Financials
Balance SheetYears Ended December 31 (in thousands) |
||
| Assets | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and investments | $129,614 | $132,984 |
| Accounts receivable, net, and other | 22,049 | 23,304 |
| Property and equipment, net and other assets | 5,469 | 7,391 |
| Total Assets | $157,132 | $163,679 |
| Liabilities | ||
| Unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses | 18,778 | 18,742 |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 12,842 | 14,282 |
| Total Liabilities | $31,620 | $33,024 |
| Reserves | ||
| Company reserves, unrestricted | 104,941 | 92,126 |
| Total Liabilities & Reserves | $157,132 | $163,679 |
Statement of Operations & Changes in ReservesYears Ended December 31 (in thousands) |
||
| Total revenue from operations | $446,125 | $410,159 |
| Net investment income | (4,490) | 11,895 |
| Total Revenue | $441,635 | $422,054 |
| Benefits for services to members and operating expenses | 439,222 | 404,309 |
| Grants and community engagement expenditures | 7,556 | 4,655 |
| Net Change in Reserves | (5,143) | 13,090 |
In 2019, excluding investment returns, Delta Dental of Colorado retained less than 0.4% of revenue. This means that we paid claims quickly and efficiently, and gave back to the communities we serve.
Senior Leadership Team
Top row from left: Adeeb Khan (VP Corporate Social Responsibility & Foundation Executive Director), Dr. Brad Guyton (Chief Dental Officer), Greg Vochis, Dave Gerbus Bottom row from left: Kathy Jacoby (Vice President of Marketing and Member Experience), Helen Drexler (President and Chief Executive Officer), Mark Thompson (Vice President of Sales and Broker/Group Experience)
Board of Trustees
Top row from left: Rich Call, DDS, MS—Retired, DMD, Kim Kretch, DDS (Pediatric Dentist), Bruce N. Calonge, MD, MPH (President and CEO, The Colorado Trust), Ann Somers, DDS (Periodontist), Hassan Salem (President, U.S. Bank—Colorado, and Regional President, U.S. Commercial Banking – CO, NV, UT, AZ), Ann Elizabeth Block (Retired Senior VP, Frontier Airlines), Walt Vogl, DDS (General Dentist), Andrea Young (Senior Vice President of Technology, Aimco Apartment Homes), James Cousin, II, CPA, MBA (Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Business Strategy, Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses), Tamanna Tiwari, MPH, MDS, BDS (Dentist and Assistant Professor at the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Colorado) Front row from left: Kelly J. Brough (President and CEO, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce), Leo Tokar (Senior Vice President, Health & Welfare Practice, Lockton Companies), Helen Drexler (President and CEO, Delta Dental of Colorado), Mary Noonan (Retired Insurance Industry Executive), Mark Wehrle (Retired Partner, Deloitte & Touche)
Year in Review —
Smile Power™ is a Constant
People and Prevention First
Improving the oral health of the communities we serve is a serious task. We do that by harnessing the power of prevention, by serving as advocates for our nearly 1.4 million members' oral health in order to achieve their best oral and overall health. Because Smile Power is our constant, we're developing innovative programs to keep that the relationship between oral and overall health top of mind.
One of those innovative programs, Right Start 4 Kids®, sets children up for a lifetime of good oral health by providing diagnostic & preventive, basic, and major dental coverage up to their 13th birthday at 100% coinsurance with no deductible. Almost 80% of all our covered business now have this benefit enhancement. We understand that when you set up a child with healthy, preventive habits from the start, a brighter, healthier future will await.
The Hypertension Identification Program has also allowed us to put prevention at the heart (literally) of what we do. The program, originally developed for University of Colorado Health Plan and UC Health, aims to track blood pressure readings taken during routine dental office visits. Since the program's inception, participating provider offices have screened more than 3,700 patients for high blood pressure, with at least 13 identified as being in a hypertensive crisis and referred to their primary care physician for further, potentially life-saving evaluation. Our hope is that by helping providers make the connection between oral and overall health for their patients, we can help members achieve more positive overall health outcomes.
Dedicated to Dental
Our dedication to dental will always be at our core. We strive to ensure that the world-class service we provide to our members, employers, and providers stands at the center of that commitment.
Our new chief dental officer, Brad T. Guyton, DDS, MPH, MBA, has reaffirmed that commitment as he brings focus to a higher level of thought leadership in the areas of oral health and wellness, medical-dental integration, value-based plan design and reimbursement, product development, and provider relations. As a currently practicing dentist and an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Guyton brings valuable insights that will help us design programs and partnerships that address evolving consumer demands and provider preferences.
The continuous feedback we receive from our stakeholders through our Voice of the Customer survey helps us continue to refine our focus. Since 2016, Delta Dental of Colorado has been conducting this program to measure Net Promoter Scores (NPS) for our employers, members, and providers. Over the course of four years, we've seen a significant increase in our NPS, especially among members and providers. Much of the improvement in the scores can be attributed to our strong service culture, which makes it easy for employers, members, and providers to work with us. Our customers know their claims will be paid quickly and accurately and that our service representatives will help with any issues. Our team members always go the extra mile for every smile.
Dear Delta Dental,
Our Greeley, Colorado corps has a desperate need for toothbrushes. It serves a large number of youth. Clean teeth promote heart health and successful pregnancies/child births and discourage gum disease, diabetes and oral cancer. When I visited High Peak Camp (our youth summer camp near Estes Park) last July, a youngster said one of her favorite things about camp is that she gets her own toothbrush—one she doesn't have to share with her siblings. Understandably, this brought some of us to tears. Thanks for considering our request.
—The Salvation Army
Foundation: Elevating Oral Health Equity
At Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, we understand and live the mantra of 1 + 1 = 3. On average, people with lower incomes, rural residents, pregnant women, young children, older adults, and people of color face barriers to care that lead to poorer health outcomes. That's why we partner with communities to implement innovative programs and projects intended to reach those with the most to gain.
The Colorado Medical-Dental Integration Project (CO MDI) expands access to dental services to underserved communities by adding registered dental hygienists (RDHs) and a full scope of services to medical care teams. CO MDI has been an ongoing effort since 2015. In 2019, RDHs at 10 clinics across the state served 5,132 patients.
Bob, a 79-year-old disabled and visually impaired Vietnam veteran, was able to access oral health resources with support from the Dominican Home Health Agency (DHHA). They helped Bob reapply for Medicaid benefits and coordinated efforts between three organizations and a dentist to give Bob a set of dentures and a new smile for the first time in 20 years.
At 15 years old, Andrew had never brushed his teeth. Unable to take the pain in his mouth, he begged his mother to take him to the dentist. Andrew was given his first toothbrush and showed how to brush his teeth, a truly life-changing experience.
Janet is raising five children in Sterling, Colorado. She works two jobs to provide for her family and has little free time. Janet feels that it's important that her children receive regular medical care, but scheduling is a challenge with her workload. When she showed up for her doctor visit with her family, Janet learned that every member of her family could receive a CO MDI dental check-up at the same time. She was thrilled.