October 2016


Waiting Periods Removed for Voluntary Small Group Dental Plans
Delta Dental of Colorado has removed waiting periods for voluntary small group (2-100) dental plans on new and existing groups. This change means there are no more waiting periods for basic and major services. Groups with orthodontia coverage will continue to have a waiting period for these services.

For existing groups, the removal of waiting periods will automatically occur at their renewal in 2017. We want to keep this simple, so no action is required by your groups. Simply renew with Delta Dental, and your groups will enjoy full access to their coverage immediately. 

For more information on small group dental benefits, contact your Delta Dental account manager or sales executive directly or email [email protected].

HEALTH CARE REFORM NEWS

Can't Find a Plan on HealthCare.gov? One May Be Picked for You.
The New York Times, October 8, 2016
The federal government will choose health plans for hundreds of thousands of consumers whose insurers have left the Affordable Care Act marketplace unless those people opt out of the law's exchanges or select plans on their own, under a new policy to make sure consumers maintain coverage in 2017.

HHS predicts 13.8 million enrolling in ACA exchanges for 2017
Modern Healthcare, October 19, 2016
The HHS is predicting about 9% more people will sign up for coverage on the Affordable Care Act exchanges during the next open enrollment period, but the estimate is still below the most recent projections from the Congressional Budget Office.

INDUSTRY NEWS

These Health Insurance Mergers Aren't Alike
The Wall Street Journal, October 12, 2016
Investors have taken a dim view of two big pending health insurance mergers. But the two deals are starting to diverge, which could give investors an opportunity.
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IMA Financial Group CEO to lead national insurance council
Denver Business Journal, October 13, 2016
The chairman and CEO of Denver-based IMA Financial Group Inc. will have a hand in steering insurance policy on a national level.

COLORADO NEWS

Brighton Boulevard In RiNo Neighborhood Gets Makeover
CBS Denver, October 14, 2016
The City of Denver broke ground Thursday morning on a $29 million project that will add sidewalks, bike lanes, parking and landscaping along the stretch of road north of downtown.

3 Colorado cities picked by Google's Sidewalk Labs to study autonomous cars, urban mobility
The Denver Post, October 18, 2016
Denver didn't win the big $40 million prize in a smart-city competition. But on Tuesday, the city was picked to join a 15-city nationwide collaboration to explore how technology from autonomous cars to data management can improve urban mobility. 

COLORADO COMPANY NEWS

Molson Coors claims all of MillerCoors, making home-grown brewer the third largest in the world
The Denver Post, October 11, 2016
Golden Brewery, launched in 1873 by German immigrants Adolph Coors and Jacob Schueler, has defied the odds once again, closing on a $12 billion purchase that makes it the third-largest beer company in the world.

Vail Resorts completes acquisition of Whistler Blackcomb
BizWest, October 17, 2016
Vail Resorts Inc. (NYSE: MTN) completed its $1.1 billion acquisition of Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada, Oct. 17, giving Broomfield-based Vail Resorts ownership of the largest ski resort in North America.

Delta Dental of Colorado
1-800-610-0201