California Dental Network

What California Dental Network does

California Dental Network, Inc. (CDN) is a California-licensed dental benefits administrator that operates as the state-specific brand within the DentaQuest family of companies (itself a subsidiary of Sun Life). The company administers dental and vision benefits under a Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act license issued by the California Department of Managed Health Care, operating a contracted provider network with documented timely-access standards (urgent appointments within 72 hours, routine within 36 business days) and member-facing compliance processes including grievances, confidential communications, and Independent Medical Review eligibility.

CDN's product portfolio centers on government and marketplace dental programs: the Covered California Family Dental HMO plan (with 2025 published benefit and copayment schedules across plan tiers such as Plan 411, Plan 460, and Plan 595) and the California Dental Managed Care Medi-Cal program for Medi-Cal beneficiaries. CDN historically also offered individual dental plans directly to California consumers but has discontinued that channel and redirects members to the parent DentaQuest brand, narrowing its distribution to Covered California, Medi-Cal Managed Care, and licensed insurance brokers/agents.

Revenue is generated through premiums and capitation paid by government programs (Medi-Cal, Covered California) and members in exchange for administering dental benefits and managing the California provider network. Distribution occurs primarily through government marketplaces (Covered California and Medi-Cal Managed Care) and through a structured agent/broker appointment process that requires California insurance licensure, a completed Agent Agreement, W-9, and direct deposit authorization. CDN's technology stack is a conventional dental benefits administration and claims processing platform inherited from DentaQuest, with no disclosed AI/ML, API, or proprietary model capabilities in the source data.

Name

California Dental Network

Legal name

California Dental Network, Inc.

Website

https://caldental.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

California Dental Network is a California-licensed dental benefits administrator (Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act) operating as the California-specific entity of DentaQuest. It administers Medi-Cal Managed Care dental and Covered California Family Dental HMO plans for California residents through government channels and licensed brokers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dental Benefits Administration

SIC

Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324)

akta.pro primary industry

Dental Benefit Administration (DBA) & ASO/TPA for Dental (HLAEAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Individual & Family Dental Plans (Exchange/Off-Exchange) (HLAEABAE), Medicaid/CHIP Dental Managed Care Plans (HLAEAIAI)

Keywords

• Dental benefits administration
• Managed dental care
• Dental HMO plans
• Medi-Cal dental coverage
• Covered California dental

Headquarters

HQ city

Laguna Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Dental Benefits Administration: California Dental Network administers dental and vision benefits for members, operating as a licensed health care service plan under the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act. Revenue is generated through premiums paid by members and government programs (Medi-Cal, Covered California) in exchange for administering dental benefits and managing a provider network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

California Dental Network administers dental and vision benefits for California residents as a licensed health care service plan under the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act. The company distributes the Covered California Family Dental HMO plan through the state marketplace and operates the California Dental Managed Care Medi-Cal program for government-sponsored beneficiaries, managing a contracted provider network and processing claims for preventive, routine, restorative, and specialty dental services. Direct individual dental plan sales have been discontinued.

Product overview

California Dental Network is a dental insurance provider that offers a portfolio of dental benefit plans. The company provides Individual Dental Plans (including Plan 411, Plan 460, and Plan 595 tiers), Covered California Family Dental HMO plans for marketplace enrollees, and California Dental Managed Care Medi-Cal coverage for eligible beneficiaries. California Dental Network is a subsidiary of DentaQuest, a dental and vision benefits administrator serving 28 million members across 28 states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Covered California Family Dental HMO
• California Dental Managed Care Medi-Cal

Quantifiable outcome

• Timely access to care: Urgent appointments within 72 hours, routine appointments within 36 business days, preventive care within 40 business days
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DentaQuestcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCalifornia Dental Network is a DentaQuest company and operates as the California-specific brand under the DentaQuest umbrella. DentaQuest provides the administrative infrastructure, technology platform, and brand backing. DentaQuest has over 50 years of experience and administers dental and vision benefits for 28 million members across 28 states, partnering with more than 100 health plans.
• Health Plans (100+)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDentaQuest/California Dental Network partners with over 100 health plans to administer dental and vision benefits. These health plans integrate California Dental Network's dental administration services into their broader health benefit offerings.
• California Department of Managed Health CarecoreOthersCalifornia Dental Network is licensed by the California Department of Managed Health Care under the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act, one of the most comprehensive regulatory programs in the United States. The DMHC regulates health care service plans in California and provides complaint forms, IMR application forms, and assistance for members.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Humana Dental: Humana offers dental insurance and dental HMO plans nationally with a growing focus on Medicare Advantage dental benefits, competing with CDN-style dental plans for the broader individual and senior dental buyer pool in California.
• Delta Dental of California: Delta Dental of California is the largest dental benefits provider in the state, administering PPO and DHMO plans for employer-sponsored, individual, and government segments. It competes with CDN across Medi-Cal, exchange, and individual dental lines with broader product breadth and stronger brand recognition.
• Cigna Dental: Cigna is a large national carrier offering dental HMO and PPO plans through employer-sponsored and individual channels, competing with CDN for group and individual dental buyers in California and providing a broader portfolio alternative.
• MetLife Dental: MetLife is a major national dental insurance carrier offering DPPO, DHMO, and dental HMO products to employers and individuals nationwide, including California. It represents a broader incumbent alternative for dental benefits outside of CDN's Medi-Cal focus.
• Anthem Blue Cross (Elevance Health): Anthem Blue Cross is a major California Medi-Cal Managed Care plan and marketplace carrier that bundles dental benefits into integrated products, creating a one-stop-shop alternative to standalone dental plans like CDN for both Medi-Cal and Covered California members.
• Health Net (Centene): Health Net is one of the largest Medi-Cal Managed Care plans in California and offers bundled dental benefits through partnerships and direct administration, competing with CDN for Medi-Cal dental lives and marketplace dental add-ons.
• Aetna Dental (CVS Health): Aetna, under CVS Health, offers dental HMO and PPO plans to employers and individuals nationally. Its integration with CVS retail and pharmacy channels makes it a competing distribution platform for dental benefits in California.
• UnitedHealthcare Dental: UnitedHealthcare offers dental insurance products nationally and is one of the largest Medi-Cal Managed Care contractors in California, providing a competing integrated dental-plus-medical offering to CDN's standalone dental plan.

Direct peers

• Liberty Dental Plan: Liberty Dental Plan is a California-headquartered dental benefits administrator that serves Medi-Cal Managed Care and Covered California marketplace members with dental HMO products. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor to CDN in California's government dental segment.
• Access Dental Plan: Access Dental Plan is a California-licensed Knox-Keene dental plan that administers Medi-Cal and individual dental HMO coverage in California, directly competing with CDN for the same broker-driven Covered California and government-program members.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about California Dental Network