As much as we might hope to buy coverage in a pinch, insurance companies are smarter than that. They might cover exams and X-rays immediately, but fillings and oral surgery usually require a one- to two-year wait.

Instead, the reader bought into a discount network and saved about $800 after purchasing an individual membership for $100 a year. The waiting period before her benefits kicked in? Three days.

It’s called a discount dental plan and it’s similar to buying a membership at Costco or Sam’s Club. For the price of your annual membership, you get the benefit of paying lower prices on the products or services offered.

The dentists who participate in the program agree to accept a discounted fee from the plan as payment in full for their services. For example, a white filling is typically $173, but discount plan members pay $51 to $116, depending on the plan. A crown is typically $1,200, but members pay $473 to $1,000.

Annual membership fees range from $80 to $160 for an individual and $130 to $200 for a family.

One of the best ways to shop for a plan is at www.dentalplans.com. It has aggregated plans from more than 30 companies, including Aetna and Cigna. After putting in a ZIP code, you can find dentists in your area who accept the plans and what the discounted rates are for fillings, crowns, root canals and dentures.

Most people have never heard of the discount plans, probably because nearly 70 percent of Minnesotans have dental insurance, said Loren Hanson, director of marketplace activities at the Minnesota Dental Association in Minneapolis.

But even those with insurance might want to consider a dental plan if they have some unexpected big bills. Dental insurance typically has a maximum benefit per year of $1,000 to $1,200. Anyone who has already met the annual maximum and develops a new toothache is unlikely to wait until January to get it fixed.

Hanson said the MDA has had few complaints about the discount dental plans but says many patients will find that their dentist doesn’t offer the discounts. About 10 percent of dentists in the Twin Cities offer them, he said.

Dental plans have a 30-day cancellation policy and no waiting periods, deductibles or maximums. Orthodontia and cosmetic procedures are included in some plans. DentalPlans.com is offering a 10 percent discount with the code “July10,” but when I called several months ago I was offered a 20 percent discount after I balked about joining. Call 1-888-632-5353 or visit the website.

CIGNA Corporation (NYSE:CI) and Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) have formed an alliance to better serve employers who provide health care benefits for their employees and retirees (see also <http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/CIGNA-Corporation.html> CIGNA Corporation).

The new alliance will blend CIGNA’s consultative approach and single point of contact for clients with Humana’s industry-leading group Medicare Advantage products and services and strong name recognition. Clients will benefit from a simplified management structure, additional geographic offerings, and a cost-effective solution that addresses the full range of benefit needs for their employees and retirees. Employees will benefit from CIGNA’s health and wellness programs and award-winning quality and service, and retirees will benefit from the scale and breadth of Humana’s Medicare offerings. The alliance will address the needs of employees as they approach retirement by offering a coordinated solution through the employer.

“By bringing together the capabilities of two strong companies, we’re offering market-leading solutions and creating differentiated value for our clients in these uncertain times,” said Sam Srivastava, CIGNA’s president of Government Segments. “Through this alliance, we can expand CIGNA’s portfolio, while Humana is able to expand its distribution to a larger base of employer customers for its Medicare Advantage plans. It’s a winning blend for employers and their retirees who will have access to broad-based, affordable coverage from two companies widely recognized for their service excellence.”

“CIGNA and Humana are driving innovation through this unique alliance,” added Thomas Liston, Humana senior vice president of senior products. “We are excited that CIGNA will be exclusively supplementing its retiree offerings with Humana’s Medicare Advantage plans, enabling CIGNA to offer a cost-effective, one-stop solution.”

Humana is recognized for its best-in-class Medicare products and services, comprehensive health and wellness solutions and the scale and breadth of its Medicare offerings. CIGNA brings a broad commercial product portfolio, nationally recognized health and wellness programs, and award-winning service to the alliance. The Group Medicare Advantage alliance products are expected to be available beginning July 1, 2010, subject to regulatory approvals. Under the terms of the alliance, CIGNA and Humana will coordinate services and share financial results equally.

According to Srivastava, retirees who opt for an affordable Medicare Advantage plan through the alliance can be confident that it has been carefully tailored to meet their needs and will provide access to clinical programs that can enhance their quality of life and help improve or maintain their health.

CIGNA will continue to independently offer its comprehensive suite of group and individual retiree pharmacy solutions, commercial group medical plans that supplement Medicare, and its Arizona Medicare Advantage HMO health plan, in addition to its full array of commercial medical, dental, pharmacy, disability and behavioral plans.

Humana will continue to independently offer its comprehensive array of commercial and Medicare Advantage health, pharmacy and supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals. About CIGNA CIGNA (NYSE:CI), a global health service company, is dedicated to helping people improve their health, well being and sense of security. CIGNA Corporation’s operating subsidiaries provide an integrated suite of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, as well as group life, accident and disability insurance, to approximately 46 million people throughout the United States and around the world. To learn more about CIGNA, visit www.cigna.com. To sign up for email alerts or an RSS feed of company news, log on to http://newsroom.cigna.com/rss/. Also, follow us on Twitter: @cignatweets and visit CIGNA’s You Tube channel at http://www.youtube.com/cignatv About Humana Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 10.3 million medical members and 7.2 million specialty members. Humana is a full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and supplemental benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals.

Over its 49-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.

Keywords: Consumer, Finance, Financial, Health, Health Policy, Human Resources, Insurance, Investing, Investment, Managed Care, Medicare, Medicare and Medicaid, Professional Services, Seniors, Wellness, CIGNA Corporation.

In a rented room between a Southwest Side auto body yard and a scrap metal facility, Francisco Rendon allegedly performed dental work on willing patients, despite not having a dentist’s license, authorities said.

Inside the two-room space next door to Courtesy Metals in the 3700 block of South California Avenue, Rendon clandestinely ran a dentist’s office equipped with syringes, painkillers and dentures, according to Chicago police.

The makeshift dental office in the Brighton Park neighborhood, steps away from a metal scrapping machine called the “Bone Crusher,” was free of frills.

Instead of sitting in a traditional reclining dentist’s chair, patients sat in a leather office seat, according to police reports. The reports said that Rendon, 49, worked on teeth using something similar to a power tool usually used for polishing metal and that patients spit into a garbage can instead of a sink. Rendon told police he had a dental license he said he had earned in Mexico.

That seemed to be enough for his clientele, police said. Officers arriving to investigate an anonymous tip found five persons waiting to be treated. Rendon did not have the proper credentials to practice in the United States and no business license from the city.

Rendon was arrested Thursday and charged with misdemeanor providing medical service without a license, said police Cmdr. David Jarmusz said.

Repeated attempts to reach Rendon, who lives in the rented space, were unsuccessful Friday. The owner of Courtesy Metals, who did not want his name used, said he did not know what his renter was up to, saying the Mexican national only had friends visit.

Susan Hofer, a spokeswoman for the state department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which oversees the licensing of hundreds of professions, said unlicensed dentists pose a threat to consumers. Unlike an unlicensed home contractor, who might damage property, an unlicensed dentist might be dangerous to a patient’s health, she said.

The department has received 30 complaints concerning unlicensed dentistry in the past 16 months, she said.

Last week, a dentist and his assistant in downstate Macon County were criminally charged after he was accused of allowing his assistant to perform unauthorized dental work.

DentalPlans.com, the leading online marketer of discount dental plans, announced a new relationship today that allows members of two Office Depot reward programs, the Worklife Rewards(R) program and the Star Teacher program, to access exclusive pricing on more than 30 plans from DentalPlans.com.

The relationship is a collaborative effort to help small business owners and teachers access much-needed discounts. While Office Depot’s Worklife Rewards(R) and Star Teacher programs allow small business owners and teachers, respectively, to save on the supplies they need most, DentalPlans.com’s discount dental plans allow individuals, families and groups to access quality dental care savings at participating dentists nationwide.

According to a recent Harris Interactive/Health Day poll, 51 percent of uninsured and 30 percent of insured Americans skipped necessary dental care visits during the last year due to financial burdens. With rising dental care costs, the discount dental plans from www.DentalPlans.com present affordable alternatives to dental insurance that help alleviate the burden of dental care bills.

Members of Office Depot’s Worklife Rewards(R) and Star Teacher programs can visit www.MyWorkLifeRewards.com/partners and www.MyStarTeacher.com/partners, and click on the DentalPlans.com logo.

“In today’s economy, everyone is looking to save. DentalPlans.com is committed to helping small businesses trim costs while still offering a competitive dental care option to their employees,” said Buddy Johnson, CEO of DentalPlans.com. “Our relationship with Office Depot will allow us to reach more small business owners and in turn, to help more individuals and families save at the dentist.”

To learn more about business opportunities with DentalPlans.com, please contact Jenn Stoll at JStoll@DentalPlans.com or 954-668-2122.

About DentalPlans.com

DentalPlans.com has been providing individuals, families, businesses and groups with affordable discount dental plans since 1999. As the top-ranked dental plan website and the leading online marketer of discount dental plans, DentalPlans.com is devoted to improving oral health by making quality dental care affordable and accessible to everyone across the nation. Get Dentalplans coupon here

CORRECTION: In the news release, ADA Launches Community Dental Health Coordinator Pilot Program at Temple University, issued 24-Nov-2009 by American Dental Association over PR Newswire, we are advised by the organization that the ninth paragraph, second sentence, should read “Salish Kootenai College in Montana” rather than “in Wyoming” as originally issued inadvertently. The complete, corrected release follows

ADA Launches Community Dental Health Coordinator Pilot Program at Temple University

CHICAGO, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Dental Association (ADA) has signed an agreement with Temple University to train new dental team members as part of a pilot program to improve the oral health in underserved communities.

The Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) is a member of the dental health team who works in communities where residents have limited access to dental care to improve their oral health.

The CDHC provides a limited range of preventive dental care services — including screenings and fluoride treatments. However, of greater importance to these communities, the CDHC will help patients navigate the health system and access care by a dentist or an appropriate clinic and engage in educational activities to improve community members’ oral health habits.

Temple will recruit and train CDHCs from urban locations in Philadelphia over the next two years, returning them to their communities to work as dental team members under the supervision of dentists.

Although the CDHC is a new dental team member whose merits are not yet known, many studies of the community health worker (CHW) model indicate that they can make significant contributions to a community. Because the CDHC will function much like a CHW, the ADA believes that they, too, will have a positive impact on the oral health of their communities through education and outreach.

“We are delighted to welcome Temple’s participation,” said ADA President Dr. Ron Tankersley. “The pilot at Temple will help us understand the effectiveness of a dental health coordinator in underserved urban settings.”

Dr. Amid Ismail, dean of Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry and one of the architects of the CDHC program, explained why the program is seeking to place CDHC trainees in their own communities.

“Our aim is to ensure that the coordinator is able to bridge the gap between local cultures and health care systems. The CDHC can help improve people’s oral health habits and help patients navigate the social and bureaucratic barriers that prevent them from gaining access to available dental health services,” Dr. Ismail said.

Temple is the third of three pilot CDHC program sites. Two other pilot programs are directed by University of Oklahoma, which is training CDHCs from rural areas, and the University of California at Los Angeles, which, in conjunction with Salish Kootenai College in Montana, is training students from American Indian communities.

The ADA has funded the program, which will train six students per site each year.

About the American Dental Association

The not-for-profit ADA is the nation’s largest dental association, representing more than 157,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public’s health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA’s state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the ADA’s flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association’s Web site at www.ada.org.

SOURCE American Dental Association

Credit: American Dental Association

It has been a busy time for education recently. The Renal Care Skills set for ENs I spoke about in my August column has been endorsed by the National Quality Council and is now available through the Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council (CSHISC). You can find out who will be delivering it by contacting your State/Territory Training Authority.

I was recently invited to participate on another Industry reference group for the CSHISC to explore the impact of oral health on the Australian population. Like many of you, I’m sure, I don’t really like dentists very much but there I was in a room filled with dentists and dental hygienists discussing the state of Australians teeth and mouths. I found myself subconsciously doing a check. When was the last time I went to the dentist; do my teeth look ok; and should I excuse myself and give them another clean?

Seriously though, it was a very interesting group that led to quite an informative discussion around oral health and its impact on Australians from young children through to the elderly population. Did you know that dental caries are the second most costly diet-related disease in Australia, comparable to the economic impact of heart disease and diabetes? As nurses we know that oral diseases cause a substantial amount of pain and can impact heavily on a person’s quality of life.

Nurses and midwives are being asked to be part of an alternative workforce to assist the oral health care workforce to address an increasing demand for oral health care services as we care for people from birth to death. All nurses, including child and maternal health nurses, midwives, community health nurses, nurse practioners, mental health nurses and Al Ns already play a very important role in the care of Australians oral health and through this project it is anticipated we will have a much bigger impact on our patients’ oral health. I will keep you posted on the progress of this important project.

Just a quick reminder that our new ‘Asthma Management’ tutorial is FREE to members for the month of November and also please keep the feedback coming. I do love hearing from you all.

Financial services information and intelligence provider BAI has put a finger on the pulse of the banking industry and its findings come today in the form of a new economic measure – the BAI & Finacle Banking Confidence Index(TM). The new index, sponsored by NewGround, looks at the extent to which upheaval in the financial services industry in the last six months has affected consumers’ views across five areas: Financial Stress and the Economy; Access to Credit; Managing Personal Finances; Consumer Trust; and, Fees & Disclosure. The index also projects how consumers expect to feel about these areas in six month’s time. To develop its new biannual index, BAI conducted 2,501 interviews across a representative sample of U.S. households in late August 2009 (see also <http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/BAI.html> BAI).

“This is the first index we know of to focus exclusively on consumer sentiments vis-a-vis retail banking,” said Debbie Bianucci, president and CEO of BAI. “We designed this research with a rigorous methodology, so the index will have maximum value to executives who are focused on measuring consumer trust and confidence in retail banking.”

“In today’s fast-changing scenario, consumer opinion counts more than ever before and technology has made the consumer highly empowered,” said Haragopal Mangipudi, global head – Finacle, Infosys Technologies Ltd. “Presented with diverse and ever-dynamic consumer segments, banks need to anticipate changing requirements and fine-tune business strategy. Finacle with BAI has launched this index for banks to gain insight into consumer trends for innovation on future business strategy and differentiated product offerings.” Among the index’s findings were the following: Financial Stress and the Economy: One-third of consumers feel their financial situation has deteriorated in recent months, but few expect things to grow worse then now. When asked if they thought the current overall employment situation in the country was better, worse or the same as compared to six months ago, 73 percent of respondents said it was worse, 21 percent said things had remained the same and 5 percent felt the situation was better. But 40 percent felt the overall economic condition of the country would be better in six months. When asked which items among a list of behaviors respondents had altered to address their financial concerns, 71 percent said they had trimmed spending on entertainment, 60 percent had changed eating habits to save money, and 34 percent had postponed medical or dental care. Access to Credit: Along with mortgage-related products, most consumers find accessing credit a challenge. Compared to six months ago, 31 percent of respondents feel access to mortgages is worse; 5 percent say it is better, and the remainder saw no change. Those surveyed showed optimism when asked if they thought access to mortgages would be better, stay the same or become worse in six months, with 12 percent saying things would be better and 15 percent saying it would be worse. When asked to look ahead six months and say how likely they were to take out a loan to purchase a car, buy a home, or open a line of credit, respondents who were not likely to do so tallied 71 percent, 82 percent and 80 percent, respectively. Managing Personal Finances: Consumers basically trust their banks, but are less certain about their bankers’ ability to truly understand what consumers are trying to accomplish financially. While 65 percent of consumers surveyed say they trust their primary financial institution and another 81 percent feel their bank will still be in business a year from now, only 35 percent of respondents felt their primary financial institution was concerned about their financial well-being. One out of three respondents said their primary financial institution understood their financial goals. When asked to look ahead six months and project whether they would feel differently about their primary financial institution in these areas, the numbers were largely unchanged.

“In spite of everything that’s happened to our economy, most people still trust their primary bank. And people surveyed said they have some willingness to take on more risk, but they’re concerned about their ability to make the right decisions,” remarked Ajay Nagarkatte, managing director, BAI Research. “For bankers, this is an opportunity to take a fresh approach to how they work with their customers, and develop an array of new products and services that will go further to help people with their financial decision-making.” Consumer Trust: The level of trust consumers expressed in their financial services institutions was largely based on how familiar they were with the organization. Fifty-three percent of respondents who were customers of large national banks said they trust their bank. The same measure rose to 63 percent for clients of regional banks, 82 percent for customers of community banks, and 83 percent for those banking at credit unions. Customers of community banks and credit unions were likely to recommend those institutions by a measure of 72 percent and 76 percent, respectively. Fees & Disclosure: Less than a third of respondents find overdraft fees fair or reasonable. When it comes to fees and disclosures, consumers appear to understand to some extent why banks charge overdraft fees. But only 30 percent of those surveyed believed banks needed to collect such fees to manage overdrawn accounts. Only half of respondents felt the disclosures that financial institutions give for accounts, terms, rates, and fees were easy to understand.

“Recent changes introduced by some of the nation’s large banks are a good initial step to address consumer concerns. But simplified disclosures and clarity around when fees are assessed will continue to be a central theme, unless meaningful, long-term changes are made,” added Nagarkatte. About the Index and Survey BAI and Finacle created this new index, in part, to help bankers and industry-watchers understand the level of trust consumers have in the U.S. banking system. Along with that, the index assesses potential changes in consumer behavior, tracks consumers’ attitudes about their financial service providers, and offers a view behind the trends affecting the financial industry.

DentalPlans.com, a US online marketer of discount dental plans, said on Monday that it has become a partner of Delta SkyMiles, the frequent flyer scheme of Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL).

This new agreement allows Delta SkyMiles members to earn miles when they join any discount dental plan from DentalPlans.com.

Active SkyMiles members will earn 1,500 miles for joining a family discount dental plan and 1,000 miles for joining an individual discount dental plan. DentalPlans.com is also offering SkyMiles members up to 2,000 miles when joining, for a limited time.

SAO PAULO, Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Medial Saude S.A.(BM&FBovespa: MEDI3) announces the following webcast:

What:__ Third Quarter 2009 Earnings Conference Call

When:__ Friday, November 13, 2009 at 10:00 AM ET

Where:__ http://prnewswire.mediatown.com.br/player/?id=136

How:__ Live over the Internet — Simply log on to the web at the

address above.

Conference call dial-in phone numbers:

Toll-free from the U.S.: 1-888-700-0802;

Parties in Brazil: 55 (11) 4688-6361;

Parties in other countries: 1-786-924-6977

Contact: Medial Saude’s Investor Relations Area, +55-11-2112-4470, ri@medialsaude.com.br, or Daniela Ueda from FIRB – Financial Investor Relations for Medial Saude S.A., +55-11-3897-6857, daniela.ueda@firb.com

If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived at http://www.medialsaude.com.br. To access the replay, click on the Investor Relations section.

Medial is one of the largest conglomerates in the Brazilian supplementary healthcare industry, provides healthcare and dental plan coverage and operates an owned-delivery network of labs and hospitals. The Company had, by the end of June, over 1.9 million plan members, 10 hospitals, 48 healthcare clinics and 61 diagnostics units, in addition to a wide third-party healthcare network.

SOURCE Medial Saude S.A.

Credit: Medial Saude S.A.

AMD LASERS, the world leader in comprehensive and affordable laser technology, announced a strategic partnership aimed at providing even more value for dental professionals that purchase the Picasso diode dental laser. Partners include industry leaders 1-800-DENTIST(R), Fortune Management, and Cetylite Industries. While supplies last, AMD customers who purchase a Picasso laser package will receive a voucher for Everything is Marketing: The Ultimate Strategy for Dental Practice Growth (list price $24.95), a Gift Certificate for a FREE Practice Analysis (valued at $1,500), and a complimentary Cetacaine(R) Topical Anesthetic LIQUID Kit (value of $63).

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with these industry leading companies,” said Alan Miller, President and CEO of AMD LASERS. “Our customers are our greatest asset and creating such a high quality, value-added promotion will make their Picasso purchase experience even more pleasant and relevant to their business. At a value of almost $1,600, coupled with the world’s most affordable laser, we are confident this promotion will help with our goal of having a laser in every operatory.”

AMD LASERS, founded in 2006, is the global leader at providing comprehensive and affordable diode laser technology for dental professionals preparing to take their practice to the next level. The integration of Picasso, our high quality laser technology, enables thousands of dental practices to provide advanced patient care with ease. AMD LASERS customers also receive full-service customer care support from our knowledgeable and friendly staff. For more information about AMD LASERS, please call 866-999-2635, 317-202-9530, or visit us online at www.AMDLASERS.com.