Delta Dental is facing a class-action lawsuit for allegedly misrepresenting its out-of-network coverage.
The lawsuit was filed Dec. 31 by plaintiff Kevin Walsh in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The defendants listed include the Delta Dental Plans Association, Delta Dental Insurance Company, DeltaCare USA and more than 40 Delta Dental entities, according to court documents.
The lawsuit accused Delta Dental of breach of fiduciary duty and denial of benefits in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. It alleges that the insurance company misrepresents the percentage of out-of-network dental care it will cover, resulting in patients paying more out of pocket. It also claims Delta Dental refuses to disclose its reimbursement rates to insured individuals.
“We are aware of the complaint and will respond through the appropriate legal channels,” Richard Evonitz, general counsel for Delta Dental Plans Association, said in a statement to Becker’s. “We are proud of our decades-long track record of providing high-quality, transparent and affordable dental coverage and will vigorously defend against claims that allege otherwise.”
