Delta Dental of Rhode Island

What Delta Dental of Rhode Island does

Delta Dental of Rhode Island (DDRI) is a private dental insurance company headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, operating as an independent licensee of the Delta Dental Plans Association — a not-for-profit national association of 39 independent Delta Dental companies. Founded circa 1959-1964, DDRI serves more than 850,000 members across Rhode Island through a portfolio of core dental plans (Delta Dental Premier, PPO, PPO Plus Premier, and Medicare Advantage), supplemented by DeltaVision vision coverage administered in partnership with VSP. The company's underlying technology is a conventional dental insurance claims processing and provider network management platform with member-facing tools including iOS/Android mobile apps, a secure online portal, a Dental Care Cost Estimator, teledentistry virtual consultations, and paperless Explanation of Benefits communications.

DDRI generates revenue through recurring subscription premiums from group plans sold to Rhode Island employers of all sizes (small group 2-51 employees handled by dedicated account executives, large group 52+ via named sales leads), individual and family plans distributed through the state's official HealthSource RI exchange, exclusive dental and vision plans for AAA Northeast members, and pediatric dental coverage under Neighborhood Health Plan's INTEGRITY Medicare-Medicaid Plan. Pricing is tiered by plan type, with examples including DeltaVision at $7.25/month for individuals and ACA-compliant small business plans through HealthSource RI. Distribution leverages direct field sales, insurance brokers, Chamber of Commerce programs (via AmWINS/NEBCO), and affinity partnerships.

The company reinvests significantly in the Rhode Island dental ecosystem: $12.6M in quality care and workforce development since 2022, a $3M Hygiene Workforce Program (2025), and a $5M Dentist Loan Repayment Program (2025) administered by the Rhode Island Foundation. Leadership comprises President and CEO Joseph R. Perroni, SVP/CFO Sean P. Newth (joined May 2025), and a newly appointed General Counsel and VP of Strategic Initiatives & Investments, signaling an active leadership transition in 2025-2026.

Name

Delta Dental of Rhode Island

Legal name

Delta Dental of Rhode Island

Website

https://deltadentalri.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Delta Dental of Rhode Island is a private dental insurance company providing dental and vision coverage to over 850,000 members across Rhode Island through employer group plans, individual and family plans via HealthSource RI, and an exclusive AAA Northeast partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dental Insurance

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Dental Plans (Employer-Sponsored) (HLAEAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Individual & Family Dental Plans (Exchange/Off-Exchange) (HLAEABAE), Employer-Sponsored Dental & Vision (Group) (FSAIAHAH), Dental PPO Plans (HLAEAIAA), Medicare Advantage Dental Benefit Plans (MA-PD Dental) (HLAEAIAH), Dental Benefit Administration (DBA) & ASO/TPA for Dental (HLAEAIAJ)

Keywords

• Dental insurance plans
• Vision insurance coverage
• Employer benefits administration
• Dental provider network
• Oral health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dental Insurance Premiums: Delta Dental of Rhode Island generates revenue primarily through dental insurance premiums paid by employers (group plans) and individuals/families. Group plans are offered to Rhode Island-based employers, with small businesses (50 or fewer employees) able to purchase through HealthSource RI or Chambers of Commerce. Individual and family plans are available through HealthSource RI. AAA members in Rhode Island can access exclusive dental plans through the AAA partnership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Delta Dental of Rhode Island underwrites and administers dental and vision insurance plans for Rhode Island employers of all sizes, individuals and families, and dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries. Its portfolio includes Delta Dental Premier, PPO, PPO Plus Premier, and Medicare Advantage dental plans plus a DeltaVision vision plan underwritten through VSP. The company operates the largest in-state dental provider network (9 of 10 Rhode Island dentists participating) alongside access to a national network of more than 152,600 dentists.

Product overview

Delta Dental of Rhode Island operates as the state's leading dental insurer, offering a multi-tiered portfolio of dental and vision insurance products. The core offering consists of three dental plan types (Delta Dental Premier, Delta Dental PPO, and Delta Dental PPO Plus Premier) serving large employers (50+ employees), small businesses (50 or fewer employees through HealthSource RI), and individual/family members. The company extends its portfolio through a vision insurance sub-brand (DeltaVision) powered by VSP Vision Care, a mobile app for member self-service, teledentistry virtual consultations, and various wellness programs including Smart Smiles and grin! magazine. Special partnerships provide coverage through AAA Northeast, HealthSource RI, and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DeltaVision®: Vision insurance plan offered in partnership with VSP Vision Care, available exclusively to AAA Northeast members in Rhode Island. Features the largest network of eye doctors nationwide, $7.25/month individual plan rate, and comprehensive coverage for exams, prescription glasses, lens enhancements, and contact lenses.
• grin!
• Smart Smiles

Products and services

• Delta Dental Premier

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.9% of members live within 10 miles of a dentist
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Rhode Island FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2025The Rhode Island Foundation administers Delta Dental of Rhode Island's $5 million student loan repayment program providing up to $20,000 per year for three years to eligible in-state dentists.
• The Molar Express (CCAP, EBCAP, Blackstone Valley Community Health Care)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2024The Molar Express is a nonprofit collaboration providing comprehensive dental services to Rhode Island youth through a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. Delta Dental provides grant funding to support expansion into Blackstone Valley, Pawtucket, and Central Falls.
• Samuels Sinclair Dental Center at Rhode Island HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2023Partnership to launch Rhode Island's first Oral Surgery Residency Program - a four-year OMFS program accepting two residents per year. Delta Dental provided the largest grant ever made to the center.
• Thundermist Health CentermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2023Delta Dental of Rhode Island Clinic at Thundermist's West Warwick facility, nearly double the size of previous location, expanding patient capacity from 7,000 to 12,500 annually with 21 operatories.
• AAA NortheastcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelta Dental of Rhode Island has partnered with AAA Northeast to provide exclusive dental and DeltaVision plans for AAA members living in Rhode Island. Members can access custom rates by entering their date of birth and enroll through a dedicated portal.
• HealthSource RIcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelta Dental offers qualified dental plans for small businesses and individuals/families through HealthSource RI, Rhode Island's official health benefits exchange. Plans include the Essential Pediatric Dental Benefit as required by the ACA.
• Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for INTEGRITY (Medicare-Medicaid Plan) providing pediatric dental plans for dual-eligible beneficiaries.
• VSP Vision CarecoreTechnology or IntegrationDelta Dental partnered with VSP Vision Care, the largest vision benefits company in the U.S., to bring DeltaVision - comprehensive vision coverage with access to the largest network of eye doctors nationwide.
• Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership including scholarship program for Dental Hygiene students who commit to working in Rhode Island, funding for clinic renovation with state-of-the-art equipment, and support for program expansion.
• CareLinkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant funding to expand CareLink's Mobile Dentistry unit, bringing free, on-site oral health care to older adults at senior living facilities and community-based locations across Rhode Island.
• Providence Community Health CentersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the annual Rhode Island Mission of Mercy free dental clinic. Delta Dental has been premier sponsor since the program's inception in 2012.
• Rhode Island Oral Health FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization that coordinates and presents the annual Rhode Island Mission of Mercy dental clinic. Delta Dental has been premier sponsor since inception.
• Rhode Island Department of HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term support of the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP), providing approximately $500,000 in financial support since 2015 to help incentivize young professionals to launch and grow careers in Rhode Island.
• TeethFirst! (Rhode Island Oral Health Commission)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Delta Dental of Rhode Island Fund supports TeethFirst!, a statewide oral health campaign encouraging early dental visits for children under age three. Rhode Island Kids Count serves as lead agency.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island: Rhode Island's largest health insurer, offering dental as part of a broader medical portfolio. Directly competes with DDRI for employer dental and vision benefits, particularly through group plans in the same Rhode Island market.
• MetLife Dental Insurance: National multi-line insurer with a sizable group dental benefits business. Competes with DDRI for large employer dental accounts and has comparable PPO-style network products and employer-led distribution.
• Cigna Dental: Major national carrier offering group and individual dental plans alongside medical, behavioral, and pharmacy benefits. Targets the same mid-market and large employer segments as DDRI and competes in Rhode Island through broker channels.
• Guardian Life Insurance (Guardian Dental): Large mutual insurer with a strong dental and vision benefits business. Comparable to DDRI in employer-led dental distribution, PPO network structure, and group plan focus.
• Aetna Dental (CVS Health): National dental benefits provider under CVS Health. Competes in the same employer group and individual dental segments, leveraging a broader medical/pharmacy portfolio to bundle offerings.
• UnitedHealthcare Dental: Largest U.S. health insurer with a national dental benefits division. Competes with DDRI for both small-group and large-group employer dental accounts, and is a key competitor on HealthSource RI-style exchanges in other states.
• Humana Dental: Major carrier with a strong dental and vision benefits business, especially in group and individual segments. Competes with DDRI on employer-sponsored PPO dental plans and Medicare-related dental products.
• Anthem Dental (Elevance Health): Multi-state Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee with a sizable group dental business. Comparable to DDRI in employer-led distribution, network-based PPO design, and integration with state health exchanges in its footprint.

Direct peers

• Altus Dental Insurance Company: A New England-focused dental insurer and an affiliate of Delta Dental of Rhode Island (underwrites DeltaVision). It is a direct dental-only competitor serving employers and individuals across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Others

• VSP Vision Care: Largest U.S. vision benefits company and DDRI's DeltaVision technology/claims partner. Not a direct competitor; included because it is a core enabler of DDRI's vision product offering and an adjacent peer in employer-sponsored ancillary benefits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DeltaDentalRI
• Facebookfacebook.com/DeltaDentalRI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/delta-dental-of-rhode-island

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Delta Dental of Rhode Island