Affiliated Delta Dental Companies Post Enrollment Gain of 1.2 Million Enrollees

Fifteen-State Area Shows Substantial Growth in All Its Geographic Regions
SAN FRANCISCO--(Business Wire)--
Delta Dental of California, Pennsylvania and affiliated companies in 15 states,
the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico announced today the addition of nearly
1.2 million enrollees in 2008. With the addition of 2009 first-quarter gains,
total consolidated enrollment now approaches 24 million, company officials said.

The nonprofit holding company system, which operates under a single, shared
management structure led by President and CEO Gary D. Radine, also retained 97
percent of its previous enrollment.

San Francisco-based Delta Dental of California gained more than 320,000
commercial enrollees in 2007, while Delta Dental Insurance Company, a for-profit
affiliate based in Alpharetta, Ga., and which operates in nine states, added
nearly 324,000 enrollees. Delta Dental of Pennsylvania, based in Mechanicsburg,
Pa., added 225,500 new enrollees.

Company officials project 2008 consolidated gross revenues for the nonprofit
holding company at $6 billion, representing an estimated $600 million gain in
revenues over the previous year.

"Given the current economic climate, we`re pleased that our enrollment continued
to grow in 2008, with another 300,000 already on the books for 2009," Radine
said. "Dental coverage continues to be an important benefit, and one with
potentially far-reaching consequences in terms of overall health, so we`re
pleased that our clients recognize the importance of offering this coverage to
their employees."

Along with commercial gains, Delta Dental added 38,000 new enrollees within its
TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP), the nation`s largest single group
voluntary dental program now serving nearly 1.1 million uniformed service
retirees and their families. Delta Dental`s State Government Programs division
added 121,000 enrollees, primarily through growth of its community-based dental
programs serving low-income children in California and Texas.

Delta Dental of California, Pennsylvania and its affiliated companies within the
holding company system, along with Delta Dental of New York, are all part of the
Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA), based in Oak Brook, Ill. DDPA consists of
39 Delta Dental member companies licensed in all 50 states. The association
collectively covers nearly 52 million of the 173 million people nationwide with
private dental insurance, making it by far the largest national system of dental
plans.

Delta Dental
Jeff Album, 415-972-8418
jalbum@delta.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009