The Principal Offers Lower Cost Dental Plan
November 18, 2009 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Recognizing a need for a lower cost dental insurance option to ease the financial strain of employers and their employees, the Principal Financial Group has introduced Network Select.
According to a press release, employees enrolled in
Network Select visit dentists in the Principal network who agree to discounted
fees and lower services costs. These discounts translate to lower out-of-pocket
costs for the employee and a lower rate for the employer, the announcement said.
The Principal Plan Dental preferred provider organization
(PPO) network dentists agree to discounted fees and a review of their
professional credentials. On average, members experience a 25% saving, but due
to a large nationwide network, members still have choice when it comes to the
dentist they visit.
Theresa McConeghey, assistant vice president of dental
benefits for the Principal Financial Group, said in the announcement: “Encouraging
our members to utilize dentists in the Principal network enables us to pass on
savings to employers, which is why we’re lowering costs across the board on our
plans that emphasize network providers.”
The Principal also provides
interactive tools to help members get the most out of their dental benefits
through The Principal Dental Health Edge located on www.principal.com.
Members can access information on procedures, treatment plans, network providers, and basic oral health information. The site includes a cost estimator, which calculates dental costs in a given ZIP code and a database of network providers who offer discounted charges and fees.