| Over the course of its seventy-year history, the | | | | dentists practicing in the state. Blue Shield's Dental PPO |
| non-profit health plan Blue Shield of California has been | | | | plan is the perfect complement to existing medical |
| dedicated to its mission of ensuring health coverage | | | | plans, since it allows you to provide your family with |
| for all Californians by offering some of the most | | | | comprehensive dental benefits with the convenience |
| innovative health care products in the market, including | | | | of having just one point of contact when availing of |
| Blue Shield dental insurance and health plans. As of | | | | customer support. |
| April 2009, 32,000 physicians and 303 hospitals are | | | | PPO Blue Shield dental insurance offers 100% |
| part of its HMO network while they have 65,000 | | | | coverage for two comprehensive annual cleanings, |
| physicians and 348 hospitals in their PPO network. | | | | including dental X-rays, by network providers, fixed and |
| Membership reached 3.4 million as of February 2009, | | | | low copayments for basic and major services |
| of which 1.2 million were enrolled in HMOs and 1.56 | | | | provided by in-network dentists, no waiting period for |
| million in PPOs. | | | | preventive and diagnostic procedures, a $50 individual |
| Blue Shield dental insurance currently offers a range of | | | | annual deductible per member, a $1,000 maximum |
| inclusive and affordable plans which are available with | | | | benefit per member per calendar year, of which $500 |
| or without enrollment in health plans. With a PPO plan, | | | | can be used for non-network benefits and orthodontic |
| you have the flexibility to see any dentist you want | | | | benefits for children and adults. And you will enjoy |
| although you will pay less in out-of-pocket costs if you | | | | benefits whether you use network or non-network |
| use a dentist within the PPO network, which currently | | | | providers. Pregnant members will also be able to avail |
| consists of some 20,000 general and specialty-care | | | | of enhanced dental benefits. |