Delta Dental of Arkansas

Delta Dental of Arkansas’ plan to diversify a few years ago has paid off.
In 2009, the Sherwood dental insurance company’s revenue jumped 12.6 percent to $350 million.
Delta’s president and CEO, Ed Choate, credits the growth to the company’s vision coverage line, which it started offering in 2007. Revenue also rose because of Delta’s individual dental product, which also began in 2007.
Delta Dental’s subsidiary, Omega Administrators, which formed in 2003, has been gaining steam as well. On Jan. 1, Omega, a dental claims administrator for other insurance companies, began serving Mutual of Omaha.
Founded in 1982, Delta has succeeded because “our goal is to provide world-class service,” Choate said. “And I believe we deliver that … at an affordable cost.”
Nine out of 10 Arkansas dentists are members of Delta’s network, making it the largest dental network in the state.
Delta also has been busy assisting the community.
Since 2007, Delta has donated $100,000 each year to support the Arkansas Mission of Mercy, which over a two-day period provides free dental care to Arkansans.
Delta also has partnered with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas and Arkansas Children’s Hospital to start a mobile dental unit to provide services for children across Arkansas who don’t have access to dental care. The service started in the fall.
In addition, Delta is known as a great place to work for its 175 employees. It took home the Governor’s Work Life Balance Award four times between 2005 and 2009.
“That’s meaningful to us,” Choate said, “because it represents that we not only provide a great product and services to our clients, but we take great care of our employees as well.”

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