Companion Life Adds Dental Tourism Option to Help Policyholders Save

COLUMBIA, S.C., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Companion Life Insurance Co. has teamed up with a leading medical travel facilitator to offer its dental policyholders preferred pricing on travel and treatment at dental clinics outside the United States.

Traveling abroad for credentialed dental care, also known as dental tourism, helps policyholders maximize their dental benefits. Prices at the international clinics average 60 to 80 percent less than in the United States, so Americans can save thousands of dollars on extensive dental care, even after factoring in travel costs. Members' dental benefits will help cover treatment costs at the overseas clinics.

Companion Life is including the international treatment option in all of its dental programs nationwide, effective immediately. It is offering the value-added service through Companion Global Dental (www.CompanionGlobalDental.com), a division of medical travel facilitator Companion Global Healthcare Inc., based in Columbia, S.C.

Companion Global Dental will arrange travel, make dental appointments, provide round-trip customer service, and even facilitate the scheduling of tours to volcanoes, rainforests, coffee plantations and other attractions for Companion Life members visiting any clinic in its network. The network currently includes three state-of-the-art clinics, all located in Costa Rica, that have completed Companion Global's credentialing process.

"We believe we are the first national dental insurer to provide international travel and care as a value-added option on all of our policies," said J.C. Preas, Companion Life's vice president, field marketing. "This option will allow our members to get the dental treatment they need at a credentialed facility, to save significantly on out-of-pocket costs, and even combine an exciting vacation with their dental treatment."

Companion Global Dental's network providers are MP Adult Dentistry of Costa Rica, Meza Dental Clinic, and Prisma Dental Clinic. All the clinics have English-speaking staff members, utilize the latest in technology, and have years of experience in treating American patients. All offer ground transportation to and from the airport.

"Companion Life members who travel to our clinics will save money and have an amazing travel experience, and they will not have to settle for a lower standard of care," said Phil Midden, Companion Global Dental's operations manager. "Many of the dentists in our network trained in the United States and are members of American dental associations."

Companion Life offers dental plans -- small group, large group and voluntary -- to employer groups with two or more employees. For more information, call 1-800-753-0404.

About Companion Life

Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., Companion Life Insurance Co. (www.CompanionLife.com) has specialized in employee benefits since 1971. The company markets life, dental, disability, accident and specialty health insurance products through a network of independent agents and brokers, general agents and managing general underwriters. Companion Life is licensed in 45 states and the District of Columbia. It holds an A.M. Best Rating of A+ (Superior).

About Companion Global Healthcare

Based in Columbia, S.C., Companion Global Healthcare Inc. (www.CompanionGlobalHealthcare.com) provides medical travel assistance to clients who seek treatment at any of its 24 network hospitals and three dental clinics around the world. The company serves as a single launch point for appointments, travel arrangements, case management coordination services upon return to the United States, medical travel insurance, and help with filing insurance claims.

The company serves uninsured and underinsured individuals, as well as employers and insurance companies that include the Companion Global Healthcare network in their benefit plans. Employer groups interested in restructuring their benefit plans to include Companion Global Healthcare's network and services should call 1-800-906-7065.