Delta Dental of Kansas, Wichita, Kansas, United States: Access to Dental Care

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Delta Dental of Kansas, and our subsidiary Surency, offer a suite of health products and insurance services in the more than 34 states. We have nearly doubled in growth in the last 15 years. Our mission is to improve healthcare through affordable and quality care, reduced healthcare costs and exceptional service. Our focus has led to an industry-leading 98%+ client satisfaction rating. We have shattered growth, retention and engagement records, enhanced our technology, digital solutions and analytics and implemented extensive product and service innovations to support our partners and customers.

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Expanding Access to Care

Our company developed our Community Benefit Plan through a unique partnership with United Way to improve oral health equity and expand prevention and health access for low-income and underserved populations. Under the Community Benefit Plan, our company pays for comprehensive dental care to meet all oral health needs of low-income and underserved populations identified by the United Way. This program offers up to two years of comprehensive benefits coverage for participating individuals and their families.

Our company has supported the Kansas Mission of Mercy (KMOM) since its inception in 2003. KMOM is a two-say free dental clinic hosted once a year by the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation. Cleanings, fillings and extractions are provided at no-cost to the patient by volunteer dentists, dental hygienists and assistants. To date, over 30,000 people have received care through KMOM.

Dental Care for Cancer Patients

Stabilized oral health care is critical for head and neck cancer patients, many of whom require extensive dental procedures to prevent infection and further medical complications. Unfortunately, low-income individuals were not able to access or afford the critical dental care necessary to receive cancer treatment.

Our company saw these unique challenges as an opportunity to help provide life-saving care for low-income and underserved head and neck cancer patients. We partnered with the HNC Living Foundation to pay for the dental care of low-income individuals who needed it as part of their cancer treatment.

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Our partnership with United Way on our Community Benefit Plan is the largest program of its kind. Our goal through the Community Benefit Plan is to make dental care one less thing people have to worry about. Oral health affects overall health. Research has shown a link between poor oral health and conditions such as diabetes, stroke and heart disease. Our goal with this program is to ensure everyone from every background has access to free dental care when and where they need it without barriers. This ensures children and families will have the healthcare they need to thrive.

Our support of KMOM has allowed for more than $19 million in dental care to be donated through the event. We are proud to continue to support and volunteer at this inspiring event that helps so many across our state.

Our company pays for all vital dental procedures for head and neck cancer patients that allow patients to proceed with radiation treatment and regain control. The program covers every possible dental procedure from those needed at initial diagnosis to those needed to restore the patient’s oral care needs. We are proud of the fact that this partnership has since spread to serve low-income individuals in over forty-four states.