Posted on: Tuesday, July 10, 2001

Dental insurer ordered closed

Advertiser Staff

The state won a court order today forcing Hawai'i Dental Health Plan to shut down after 37 complaints in the past year that the insurer failed to pay for dental care, said insurance commissioner Wayne Metcalf.

Using a law enacted in May that extends his oversight to dental insurers, Metcalf said he had asked the court to ban the health plan from doing any further business in the state and to fine the company for not responding to the complaints.

Metcalf said customers of the plan who have had problems with payments should call the state Insurance Division at 586-2790.

His concern is that the company may be having financial difficulties, Metcalf said. "These plans can fold up their tent in the night and disappear. They offer cut-rate plans, collect a lot of money and disappear."

Hawai'i Dental Health Plan president Victor Lindsey was not available for comment. The company's local number listed in the phone directory is answered by a receptionist in Costa Mesa, Calif., who said Lindsey was not in the office. Metcalf said the company failed to respond to several certified letters sent by the state.

Metcalf said he has had no similar complaints against Hawai'i Dental Service, the state's largest dental insurer.