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Board adopts retiree dental rates amid member complaints about Delta Dental network and service
Summary
The San Francisco Health Service System board approved 2022 retiree dental premiums (Delta Dental two‑year quote; UnitedHealthcare one year) after detailed presentations and extended commissioner concerns about provider network participation, assignment‑of‑benefits policies and possible patient experience issues.
The San Francisco Health Service System board voted unanimously to adopt the 2022 retiree dental premium schedule presented by Aon, accepting two‑year rate quotations from Delta Dental for its PPO and DeltaCare HMO plans and a one‑year quote from UnitedHealthcare.
Aon actuary Mike Clark told commissioners that the Delta Dental proposals restore rates to where they would have been before the one‑time pandemic‑related premium relief the board approved for 2021; the net effect is a roughly 4.17% renewal for the Delta plans in 2022 relative to the 2021 level that included that temporary relief. UnitedHealthcare proposed a 10% premium reduction for its one‑year 2022 quote. The board’s motion, offered by Commissioner Zavansky and seconded by Commissioner Scott, passed unanimously.
The vote followed an extended discussion in which multiple commissioners and public commenters raised concerns about Delta Dental’s networks and member experience. Commissioner Breslin read a dentist’s letter alleging problems in the PPO/Premier network — including lack of clarity for members about which network category their dentist belongs to, restricted assignment‑of‑benefits policies for out‑of‑network dentists, and pressure on providers to reduce costs in ways that could affect practice viability. Breslin urged more active oversight and better member‑facing information about network categories and reimbursement differences.
Aon’s Clark said staff had raised the concerns with Delta and that the 2022 Delta quotes reflect the expiration of temporary pandemic credits. Delta Dental account staff on the call, including Maryam Pomona, said new dentists are contracted into both Premier and PPO networks and that Delta is prepared to work with HSS staff to provide data requested by the board. HSS staff indicated they will build additional performance guarantees and monitoring into contracts and pursue member satisfaction measurement.
Several commissioners asked staff to develop an HSS‑led member survey and to request (and review) Delta Dental’s provider‑side metrics and credentialing information. Protect Our Benefits representatives speaking during public comment urged the board to ensure strong dental coverage for older retirees, noting dental needs often rise with age.
The motion that passed instructs staff to implement the approved 2022 monthly premiums (Delta Dental two‑year renewal; UHC one‑year renewal), and to follow up with Delta Dental on the membership‑experience concerns, provider network depth, and performance guarantees.
The board’s action closes the formal 2022 dental‑rate renewal but directs HSS staff to return with monitoring data and any proposals to address in‑network access or member‑satisfaction shortfalls.
