Blue Shield Of California Launches Maternity Dental Health Benefits

Citing growing evidence that
pregnant women with gum disease are more likely to deliver pre-term babies,
Blue Shield of California is introducing an enhanced small group dental
benefit for pregnant women. Effective April 1, 2006, the enhanced benefit
will enable members to receive additional periodontal treatments and
maintenance during pregnancy. The benefit also will cover additional cleaning
for those not affected by periodontal disease to address the potential risk of
pregnancy gingivitis.


A study published in the July 2001 Journal of the American Dental
Association showed that pregnant women with chronic gum disease during the
second trimester may be up to seven times more likely to give birth
prematurely. A report by the Journal of Periodontology found as much as an
84% reduction of premature births in women who were less than 35 weeks
pregnant and who received periodontal scaling and root planning.


"This enhanced dental benefit for pregnant women demonstrates Blue
Shield's commitment to the health of its members," said Bob Clifton, vice
president of Blue Shield's Ancillary Group. "By encouraging women to receive
oral exams and, if necessary, treatment for gum disease during the early
stages of pregnancy, we may be helping them to avoid further complications and
costs as their pregnancies progress."


In addition to the expanded benefit coverage for pregnant members, Blue
Shield is expanding dental coverage options with four new dental PPO plans for
small groups. The new plans give employers more options including two plans
with lower-rates and two with richer coverage.


The two new lower-rate plans are:


-- Smile Value 50/1500/No Ortho/MAC ($50 deductible per person, $1,500
annual maximum, no orthodontic coverage, and maximum allowable covered
for out-of-network services) and,


-- Smile Plus Gold 50/1500/Ortho/U85 ($50 deductible per person, $1,500
annual maximum, orthodontic coverage, and 85th percentile of usual,
customary and reasonable [UCR] for out-of-network services).


The two new plans with richer coverage are:


-- Smile Deluxe 2000 50/2000/No Ortho/MAC ($50 deductible per person,
$2,000 annual maximum, no orthodontic coverage, and maximum allowable
covered for out-of-network services) and,


-- Smile Deluxe Plus 2000 50/2000/Ortho/MAC ($50 deductible per person,
$1,500 annual maximum, orthodontic coverage, and 85th percentile of UCR
for out-of-network services).


"Employer-based dental coverage consistently tops the list of desired
benefits on the part of employees," said Clifton. "Our new dental plans are
designed to broaden the array of choices for small group employers and their
employees."


About Blue Shield of California


Founded in 1939, Blue Shield of California is one of the state's leading
health care companies. Headquartered in San Francisco, the not-for-profit
corporation has more than 3.3 million members, 4,500 employees and more than
20 office locations throughout California. Contact your local agent or broker
for more information about Blue Shield products and services, or visit the
Blue Shield website at mylifepath.