Smile Direct Club Holds Delta Dental Entities Accountable for Depriving Millions of its Insureds Affordable Dental Treatment
June 30 2020 - 7:00PM
SmileDirectClub, Inc. (Nasdaq: SDC), the first direct-to-consumer
telehealth platform for teeth straightening, announced today it has
filed lawsuits against Delta Dental Plans Association and Delta
Dental of Illinois Foundation and Delta Dental of California.
SmileDirectClub’s claims calls out the bad faith motivation by
Delta Dental and their breach of responsibilities as an insurer to
millions. With 60% of Americans not having access to health care
and only 1% of the population being able to afford and access
traditional orthodontic care, the importance of insurance providers
not discriminating against a platform that expands access to care
is paramount.
The claims allege that the Delta Dental entities have denied
their customers teledentistry benefits allowed under their policies
by systematically refusing to cover clear aligner therapy as
prescribed by SmileDirectClub Affiliated Dentists using the SDC
Teledentistry Platform.
“On behalf of consumers we filed this complaint to hold this
insurer accountable for misleading its customers and for limiting
their access to approved, affordable and effective dental care,”
said Susan Greenspon Rammelt, Chief Legal Officer, EVP Business
Affairs, SmileDirectClub. “While other major insurers and
legislatures are taking steps to give consumers choice and access
to telehealth; more important today than ever before, Delta Dental
continues to deny claims from consumers who have paid for insurance
coverage. Their actions are entirely contradictory to the growing
need and demand for telehealth, especially amid a global pandemic
where millions have relied upon remote, digital care.”
SmileDirectClub’s lawsuit filings detail Delta
Dental’s scheme to preserve profits by depriving its insureds of
affordable dental treatment, placing their bottom lines over the
best interests of their insured and in contravention of the
language of their own policies; which require coverage. Notably,
Delta Dental is the only major insurance provider in the US
refusing to provide this coverage for its insureds. Clear aligner
therapy through SmileDirectClub’s teledentistry platform is covered
by Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue
Cross and Blue Shield, and Empire BlueCross and BlueShield.
Greenspon Rammelt continued: “Teledentistry has taken on an even
greater significance and has become even more widely accepted in
the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. It enhances access to
healthcare while reducing the need for face-to-face interaction
that could spread disease. To deny claims tied to treatment through
teledentistry is not only wrongfully punishing the consumer, it is
in direct opposition to the social distancing practices essential
to mitigating overall health risks for the good of everyone.”
About SmileDirectClubSmileDirectClub, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SDC) (“SmileDirectClub”) is an oral care company and
creator of the first direct-to-consumer medtech platform for teeth
straightening, now also offered directly via dentist and
orthodontists’ offices. Through our cutting-edge teledentistry
technology and vertically integrated model, we are revolutionizing
the oral care industry, from clear aligner therapy to our
affordable, premium oral care product line. SmileDirectClub’s
mission is to democratize access to a smile each and every person
loves by making it affordable and convenient for everyone.
SmileDirectClub is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and
operates in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United
Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and Hong Kong. For more information,
please visit SmileDirectClub.com.
Contact:SmileDirectClub Media
Relations: Press@SmileDirectClub.com
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