Renaissance Life & Health Insurance Company of America, a national carrier specializing in dental, vision, life and disability coverage, has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Dentist Direct, a Utah-based dental and vision insurance carrier, and its affiliate Direct Access, a discount dental plan provider.
“This acquisition is an important step in our strategic growth at Renaissance because it not only broadens our geographic presence in the western US, but also augments our dental network and strengthens our team with the addition of an exceptional group of smart, like-minded professionals,” said Robert P. Mulligan, president and CEO of Renaissance.
“Through creativity, agility and a commitment to doing what is right for their partners and members, Dentist Direct has rapidly grown from a start-up to a strong regional carrier specializing in dental and vision insurance,” said Jeff Kolesar, chief operating officer of Renaissance, who will take the role of CEO at Dentist Direct. “Renaissance will help Dentist Direct add more value for customers by offering complementary coverages such as life and disability insurance.”
Dentist Direct will continue to operate with the same team, Renaissance said. Dentist Direct has also developed a proprietary local dental network that will remain in place. Dentist Direct plans to offer more than 260,000 dental access points nationwide. The company, formed in 2005, now serves more than 60,000 members.
“While Renaissance is significantly larger than Dentist Direct and offers opportunities for us to grow our product offerings beyond dental and vision insurance in the future, the company understands the importance and value of maintaining a local presence,” said Preston Homer, president of Dentist Direct. “Their approach to providing a flexible, friendly experience for customers of every size is perfectly aligned with our service model.”
