PLANTATION, Fla., May 23, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- CIGNA Dental today announced the expansion of its Oral Health Integration Program to include new initiatives promoting the treatment of gum disease for members with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, CIGNA Dental has established a clinical advisory panel to provide advice on the creation of innovative coverage options addressing the emerging issues of medical/dental integration, evidence-based strategies, and new and developing dental technologies.
“The CIGNA Dental Oral Health Integration Program(SM) is the first enhanced benefit program of its kind to address diabetes, cardiovascular conditions and pre-term birth through improved oral health,” said Karen Rohan, president of CIGNA Dental. “These programs combine CIGNA’s integration and outreach capabilities to reinforce the connection between proper oral health and the overall health of an individual.”
“The connection between periodontal disease and pre-term birth is much easier to identify as there is a beginning and an end to pregnancy. However, studying such a connection between periodontal disease and other systemic health issues like diabetes and cardiovascular disease is not as clear cut,” said Dr. Marjorie Jeffcoat, dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and CIGNA Dental Clinical Advisory Panel member. “CIGNA’s move to enhance its dental benefits by targeting diabetes and cardiovascular disease is a tremendous step in the right direction.”
Under the new programs, beginning July 1, 2006 CIGNA Dental members who are also enrolled in CIGNA HealthCare’s disease management programs for diabetes and cardiac care may receive 100% reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs associated with periodontal scaling and root planing, and periodontal maintenance.* The new initiatives expand upon the previously launched CIGNA Dental Oral Health Maternity Program(SM) (OHMP), which provides enhanced benefits during pregnancy for members with both CIGNA medical and dental coverage. The CIGNA Dental Oral Health Integration Programs are designed to help eliminate cost as a barrier to seeking appropriate treatment.
CIGNA Dental Oral Health Diabetes and Cardiovascular Programs
The Oral Health Diabetes and Cardiovascular Programs are being created to address the emerging evidence demonstrating a connection between dental health and other systemic health conditions. For example, diabetes can slow the healing process and lower one’s resistance to infections and those with diabetes tend to have more periodontal (gum) disease. Moderate or severe gum disease can increase the time a diabetic’s blood sugar remains high. One study showed that when diabetic patients’ periodontal infections were treated, they experienced a marked improvement in the ability to manage their blood sugar(1). Further, evidence is mounting that people with periodontal disease may be at higher risk for heart disease and stroke. That’s because bacterial by-products from the gum tissues may enter the blood stream and cause small blood clots that may contribute to the clogging of arteries. The inflammation caused by gum disease may also contribute to the buildup of fatty deposits inside heart arteries(2).
Industry estimates demonstrate that both direct and indirect costs for these conditions are substantial. According to the American Diabetes Association, in 2002 diabetes cost the U.S. an estimated $132 billion. For 2006, the American Heart Association estimates the costs of cardiovascular diseases and stroke in the U.S. at $403.1 billion. A recent two-year study conducted by the International Association of Dental Research concluded that per-member, per-month (PMPM) medical expenditures for diabetics and cardiovascular patients were significantly lower when treated for periodontal disease.
* Members eligible for CIGNA Dental’s new OHIP cardiovascular and diabetes programs are those CIGNA Dental Care(R) DHMO** and DPPO members enrolled in the CIGNA Well Aware for Better Health(R) diabetes or cardiac programs.
About CIGNA Dental
CIGNA Dental refers to the following operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation: Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, and CIGNA Dental Health, Inc., and its operating subsidiaries and affiliates.
Based in Plantation, Florida, CIGNA Dental meets the dental coverage needs of more than 10.5 million members, and the employer needs of more than one-third of all Fortune 100 companies. CIGNA Dental members access care from one of the largest dental HMO and dental PPO networks in the U.S., with nearly 25,000 DHMO dentists and more than 80,000 DPPO contracted access points. CIGNA was one of the first insurance companies to offer dental indemnity - introducing its first plan in 1964 and became the first national carrier to enter the Dental HMO market.
(1) Journal of the American Dental Association, October, 2003,
(2) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes for Health, 2000.
** Dental HMO is used to refer to product designs that may differ by state of residence of enrollee, including but not limited to, prepaid plans, managed care plans, and plans with open access features.
CIGNA Dental
CONTACT: Nicole Blatcher of CIGNA, +1-215-761-4756 ornicole.blatcher@cigna.com
Web site: http://www.cigna.com//
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