Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Guiding Principles

Delta Dental's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

As the nation's largest dental insurance provider, we at Delta Dental believe we have a responsibility to help create a more equitable society. We have been deeply involved in the communities we serve for more than 65 years, guided by a promise to improve the oral and overall health of all Americans. As part of that promise, Delta Dental's nationwide network of 39 independent companies is committed to continually advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and addressing the needs of diverse communities through holistic efforts. As such, the national Delta Dental association and all of its 39 member companies have unanimously adopted the following guiding principles:

At Delta Dental, we strive to foster an inclusive workplace environment-one where all our employees, customers, brokers, and oral health professionals are treated with respect and their uniqueness valued. Through our commitment to DEI training and education across the Delta Dental system, we will promote understanding and appreciation of different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and on equal footing. An inclusive workplace enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success.

We value the unique experiences and identities that each employee in the Delta Dental System brings to our team. This diversity is one of our greatest assets. Delta Dental is committed to recruiting and developing talent from a diverse candidate pool and ensuring our company's leaders reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends to everyone who helps make our work possible — including our vendors and partners. Delta Dental is committed to supporting a more equitable and accessible business environment by increasing opportunities for diverse vendors and partners.

Current racial and socioeconomic disparities in oral health outcomes are unacceptable, and we believe it is essential to use every tool at our disposal to understand and solve this challenge. We are committed to supporting research, advocacy, and community impact initiatives that improve access to oral health care, especially in underserved communities, so that every person — no matter their background or identity — has access to quality and affordable health care.

We believe it is critical that our country's oral health professionals reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. Delta Dental is committed to helping build a more inclusive oral health workforce through our community impact initiatives and business operations.

We commit to holding ourselves accountable to these standards and driving positive change. Moving forward, we will regularly assess these principles and our adherence to them. We will share regular updates with our board of directors and employees. We will create a culture of sharing and learning from our challenges and successes. And we will continually evolve and enhance our DEI initiatives to help create a more equitable society.