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We're concerned about the cost of dental care.

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then impose A
FEE CONTROL, limiting
ourselves to the maximum
fees set by HDS. And we
guarantee our services
with constant fee veri-
fication and strict quality
control.

That's why we belong to HDS.

You may be surprised to learn WE PERSONALLY ABSORB THE 4% STATE EXCISE TAX. We also allow HDS to retain an additional 3% of our fees to ensure stability of the benefit programs and to allow flexibility in keeping premium rates as low as possible.

All of this has made HDS the LARGEST dental health care service in Hawaii. With better care, better benefits and lower out-of-pocket costs for all our subscribers.

All 300,000 of them.

HAWAII DENTAL SERVICE

Holding down the cost of dental care.

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HDS PROGRAMS COVER OVER

100,000 CHILDREN
TO INSURE THE FUTURE
DENTAL HEALTH OF HAWAII

These are the children of Hawaii.
They represent the future.

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UNIQUE FEATURES OF HAWAII DENTAL SERVICE

HAWAII DENTAL SERVICE

Hawaii Dental Service is a non-profit organization sponsored by the dental profession in the State of Hawaii in 1962 to contract with groups of consumers to administer dental care programs on a prepaid basis.

The goal and purpose of Hawaii Dental Service is to serve the public by providing quality dental care at a reasonable cost.

Services and economics of Hawaii Dental Service cannot be duplicated by any other mechanism of voluntary dental prepayment. Thus, HDS is in the unique position to serve the interests of both the patients and the groups. Currently, HDS is the largest dental prepayment carrier in the State of Hawaii and administers dental care programs for over three hundred thousand persons from the ranks of industry, commerce, government and educational groups.

HDS has flexibility in marketing dental care programs tailor-made to the needs of each group which involves varying co-payments and scope of benefits. As the first organization to administer dental coverage, HDS offers the most extensive knowledge and actuarial experience in the prepaid dental care field to assure that the rates are adequate, reasonable and equitable.

Hawaii Dental Service's only business is to provide group dental health programs.

HAWAII DENTAL SERVICE HAS STRONG PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT

Strong professional support is evidenced by the participation of more than 560 practicing dentists in the State of Hawaii who are member dentists of HDS. As a result, dentists are better informed about HDS, its claim processing policies, its professional review system and the benefits of each group's program. When questions arise, HDS and the member dentists are in direct communications. Full cooperation of the dental profession is a "must" in order to insure professional acceptance of the program so that recipients have a meaningful choice of dentists in seeking quality dental care.

HDS has secured the trust, respect and confidence of the dental profession.

HAWAII DENTAL SERVICE UNIQUE FEE CONCEPT

HDS takes particular pride in its relationship with member dentists and its capability to provide benefits which are based upon the individual member dentist's filed fees. The basis for this statement is found in the way HDS arrives at the "Usual-Customary and Reasonable" fees which are used in the administration of HDS programs. The member dentists' prefiled fees are subject to review by the HDS Professional Committee. The intent of the fee verification program is to document and establish the genuineness of the Usual-Customary fee concept and to substantiate to the groups who purchase our program that the fees charged to HDS subscribers are the same or, in many instances, less than the fees charged to private patients. This verification is actually done at the dentist's office utilizing his patients' records. The member dentist agrees not to charge the patient beyond his own Usual-Customary and Reasonable fees and accepts such fees of ninety (90) percent of all the member dentists in the State of Hawaii as the maximum amount chargeable.

The patient does not have to wonder if the dentist's fees are within Customary because prefiling and HDS' acceptance of the member dentists' Usual fees eliminates that guesswork.

Other carriers may refer to their "Usual-Customary and Reasonable" fee concept but they do not have access to the prefiled information; therefore, they must prefile their fees by keeping records of past fees charged on claims and developing an arbitrary table of maximum charges which may differ significantly from what a patient's dentist actually charges.

Member Dentists' prefiled fees are the basis of HDS benefits.

HAWAII DENTAL SERVICE PROVIDES QUALITY CONTROL

Hawaii Dental Service conducts periodic professional review of services provided under the program to assure the patient and his employer or union that the quality of work performed by each dentist is consistent with the standards

of the profession. A regular sampling is made of paid claims, on a random basis, with inquiries sent to the screening dentists and to the patients. If any irregularities are discovered, HDS will promptly remedy any deficiencies at no cost. Every claim form received in HDS office is reviewed by dentally oriented personnel. Whenever questions concerning any treatment cannot be answered by a study of diagnostic aids or the treating dentist's explanation, an HDS consultant may request a clinical examination of the patient by HDS Professional Review Committee.

Because of its unique relationship with the dental profession, HDS provides more disciplines in its administration of programs than any other prepayment organization.

HAWAII DENTAL SERVICE MEMBER DENTISTS ABSORB THE 4 PERCENT STATE TAX

No four percent State tax is charged to the patient for services rendered by the member dentists of HDS. In the past twelve months, the four percent State tax for all HDS programs amounted to about $1,000,000.

This results in less cost and additional benefits for the patients.

NO WAITING PERIOD FOR COVERED DENTAL BENEFITS

Unlike most dental programs which require a waiting period for such benefits as Prosthodontics, a patient enrolled with HDS is eligible to receive dental services immediately upon the effective date of the program. There is no waiting period for dental benefits.

HDS enables the patient to utilize the program immediately.

HAWAII DENTAL SERVICE ACCEPTS DUAL COVERAGE

If a patient is entitled to benefits under more than one group program administered by HDS, the amount payable will be prorated in accordance with rules specified in the Group Dental Agreement with HDS so that the total payments by all programs will not be greater than the cost of covered services.

Recognition of dual coverage reduces direct cost to the patient and overall cost of the dental programs.

HAWAII DENTAL SERVICE IS A MEMBER OF DDPA

HDS is a member of the national system of Delta Dental Plans Association. Through this national organization, HDS is able to keep current of trends and developments in dental benefits. Also through DDPA, Hawaii Dental Service can provide multistate and national programs that deliver uniform benefits in all states involved.

As a member of the national coordinating agency, HDS is involved and prepared to administer multistate dental accounts.

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In evaluating a dental benefit program, a common mistake it to compare the co-payment schedule relative to the cost. For instance, a program that pays 80 percent by the carrier and 20 percent by the subscriber (80/20) appears to be much better than a program that pays 70 percent by the carrier and 30 percent by the subscriber (70/30). However, the basis of payment is the important factor. Most commercial insurance carriers base their payment on a fee schedule statistically compiled on the national average or by region, such as the West, Midwest, or Eastern payment schedule. The inadequacy and inequality of such a schedule in a high-cost area such as Hawaii or San Francisco is obvious. A schedule that pays on the Usual-Customary and Reasonable Fee of the dentists in a specific area is a much more accurate reimbursement. For instance, one of the

largest commercial carriers maintains a schedule of payment which in effect is equal to only 5 percent of the dentists fees in Hawaii. Therefore, the so called 80/20 copayment under such a schedule would apply to only 5 percent of the dentists and result in a co-payment anywhere from 50/50 to 20/80 for the remaining 95 percent of the dentists in the area. This program would be minutely beneficial to the subscribers and will result in employee dissatisfaction and maximum out-of-pocket costs.

Even a program that pays according to the UCR can be misleading. UsualCustomary and Reasonable Fee again can be inaccurately determined statistically or according to regions. In addition, the majority of programs based on the UCR pays at the 60th or 75th percentile. This means that only 50 percent or 75 percent of the dentists are reimbursed at their Usual-Customary Fee. Hawaii Dental Service is the only organization that pays at the 90th percentile of the UsualCustomary and Reasonable Fee of the dentists in the State of Hawaii based on actual prefiled fees of more than 560 participating dentists.

Another area that must be considered is the procedures covered through the program. Again, a program with a high co-payment schedule would be meaningless if it only covered one-third or one-half of the commonly needed procedures to provide basic adequate dental treatment. Hawaii Dental Service, as a non-profit organization, is committed to provide quality dentistry at the most reasonable cost. The dental benefit programs under Hawaii Dental Service are designed to encourage the subscribers to utilize dental services by providing a comprehensive benefit structure that is within the range of fees of 90 percent of the participating member dentists.

This means that a co-payment schedule of 70/30, although it would seem lower than one offered by a commercial company of 80/20 on a fixed schedule scale, would be of greater benefit and cost less out-of-pocket expenses for your employees. The participating member dentists of HDS prefile their fees and are held to this fee schedule for one year up to the maximum of the 90th percentile, so that the 70/30 co-payment or any other co-payment program underwritten by Hawaii Dental Service is based on an accurate schedule of prevailing fees in our State. In addition, with the endorsement of more than 560 dentists in the State of Hawaii as participating members, your employees have a greater freedom of choice of dentists and are assured that the co-payment schedule is based on a true and accurate schedule of fees relevant to the practicing dentists in the State of Hawaii.

Hawaii Dental Service will ensure the quality of dentistry by periodic quality reviews and will strive to provide this quality dentistry at the most moderate cost through its cost containment programs such as fee verifications, preauthorization of treatments by our dental consultants and through efficient low-cost administrative procedures. Look at your dental benefit program very carefully and remember that in this day of inflation, quality and value cannot be purchased in the bargain basement. Hawaii Dental Service has developed the highest quality dental program at the lowest possible cost after more than 16 years of experience.

SCHEDULE OF BENEFITS

I. BASIC BENEFITS

A. Diagnostic: (1) Examinations (once every 12 months); (2) Roentgenology and pathology; (3) Palliative treatment.

B. Preventive: (1) Prophylaxis (once every 6 months); (2) Topical application of fluoride solutions (once every 12 months); (3) Space maintainers. C. Oral Surgery: (1) Extractions; (2) Post-operative treatment; (3) All other oral surgery services to supplement existing medical care plan.

D. Restorative Dentistry: (1) Amalgam, Silicate, Acrylic fillings; (2) Gold restorations when necessary to restore the tooth; (3) Crowns and Jackets when necessary to restore the tooth.

E. General Anesthesia: When administered for a covered oral surgery procedure performed by a dentist.

F. Endodontics: (1) Pulpal therapy; (2) Root Canal Filling.

G. Periodontics: Includes procedures necessary for the treatment of diseases

of the gums and bone supporting the teeth.

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