Delta Dental Dentist Loan Repayment Program
Offered by Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana

Delta Dental Plan of Michigan, Inc. (“DDMI”), Delta Dental Plan of Ohio, Inc. (“DDOH”), and Delta Dental Plan of Indiana, Inc. (“DDIN”) (collectively “Delta Dental”), are sponsoring a dentist loan repayment program for eligible dentists (“Program”).  The Program is an initiative designed to support dentists in managing their student debt while making a meaningful impact in dental shortage communities in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.  This Program intends to not only alleviate the financial burden of student debt in the profession, but also ensure that quality dental care reaches more individuals in areas that lack oral health access.  Dentists interested in applying to the Program must meet the criteria outlined in this document and must submit a completed application, as well as all required documentation, by the deadline set forth below (“Applicants”).In order to be eligible for participation in the Program, Applicants must meet all of the eligibility requirements defined below and work at an Eligible Practice Site in Michigan, Ohio or Indiana.

Upon completion of the application period, a Selection Committee will review submitted applications for potential participation in the Program based upon the criteria set forth below.  Dentists selected for the Program (“Recipients”) will be eligible to receive an award of up to $50,000 per year (which can be renewed annually for a maximum of 5 years for a total award of $250,000) that can be used towards their dental school educational debt.  In order to receive the award, Recipient’s must maintain full-time employment at an Eligible Practice Site (30 clinical hours per week) and treat a significant number of Medicaid insured patients (15% of the Recipient’s total practice).  The annual award will be comprised of a $40,000 loan repayment made directly to the Recipient’s student debt lender and a $10,000 payment made directly to the Recipient to cover any applicable income tax obligations. On an annual basis, Delta Dental will issue a 1099 to Recipients.  Recipients should consult a tax attorney regarding any tax implications. To remain eligible for the award, Recipients will be required to submit, on an annual basis, all necessary reports and verifications as evidence of their ongoing compliance with all applicable Program requirements.  

The selection of Recipients to participate in the Program is discretionary and subject to the application process and selection criteria set forth below.      

To be eligible for participation in the Program, Applicants must:

• Be fully trained and licensed (or be in the process of becoming licensed) to practice dentistry as a DDS or DMD in Michigan, Ohio or Indiana.
• Be in good standing with applicable state dental board(s), state agencies and regulatory agencies.
• Work full-time (minimum 30 clinical hours/week), or have an employment agreement to work full-time, at an Eligible Practice Site.

o   Ongoing verification of employment at an Eligible Practice Site will be required.

• Participate as an in-network provider with either Delta Dental Plan of Michigan, Inc. Delta Dental Plan of Ohio, Inc, or Delta Dental Plan of Indiana, Inc. based upon the location of the Applicant (“Network Participation”)
• Maintain a dental practice that sees and/or treats a significant number of Medicaid-insured patients.

o   For the purposes of this requirement, an Applicant is treating a significant number of Medicaid-insured patients if 15% of the Applicant’s total patient base is made up of Medicaid-insured individuals.

o   Ongoing verification and reporting of treatment of Medicaid-insured patients will be required.

• Provide verification of their current dental educational debt.

o   Ongoing verification of dental educational debt will be required.

• Agree to provide dental services for at least one (1) year (up to five (5) years) at an Eligible Practice Site
• Submit a completed application and provide all associated documentation for review during the open application period.
• Participate in a scheduled interview(s) with the Selection Committee at a mutually agreed upon location and time.
  
  

Dentists not eligible to participate in the Program include:

• Dentists who have defaulted on federal loans
• Dentists who are on an exclusion or sanctioned list (i.e., OFAC, OIG)
• Dentists who are on Focused Review
• Dentists who are not in good standing and/or have complaints
• Immediate family members of employees and board members of Delta Dental Plan of Michigan, Inc., Delta Dental Plan of Ohio, Inc., Delta Dental Plan of Indiana, Inc., and Delta Dental Foundation 
• Dentists receiving financial assistance from other loan repayment programs for education loans, including by federal and/or state entities, or from their employer.

Selection Committee Review and Scoring

Applicants that meet the criteria outlined in this document and who have submitted a timely and completed application with all associated documentation will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of individuals with representation from: state dental association(s), practicing dentists in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, and board members from Delta Dental (“Selection Committee”).  

The Selection Committee will review and score applications and associated documentation based on: 

1. Location of Applicant’s Eligible Practice Site
2. Applicant’s compliance with the terms and requirements of the Program 
3. Applicant’s responses to narrative questions in the application
4. Applicant’s submitted resume, letters of recommendation, and supporting documentation
5. Applicant’s interview with the Selection Committee/Delta Dental
6. Applicant’s commitment to serving the underserved communities in their state.
   
   

The Selection Committee’s decision to select an Applicant for participation in the Program is discretionary.  The selection committee will abide by all applicable anti-discrimination laws while conducting their review and selection of Applicants.

Recipient’s continued eligibility for the Program:

Recipients who were chosen to participate in the Program will need to verify compliance with the Program requirements on at least an annual basis (or more frequently as may be necessary to ensure compliance).  Such verification may, include, but not be limited to:

• Proof of good standing and active licensure in Michigan, Ohio or Indiana
• Proof that Recipient is continuing to work full-time at an Eligible Practice Site (minimum 30 clinical hours/week) 
• Provide de-identified reports showing that Recipient continues to meet the minimum threshold for treating a significant number of Medicaid-insured patients (i.e., at least 15% of total practice)
• Proof of network participation status
• Annual verification of current outstanding student loan debt
• Participation in scheduled interview(s) with Delta Dental to discuss your experience with the Program. 

A Recipient’s failure to maintain on-going compliance with the requirements of the Program may result in termination from the Program and a loss of loan repayment.

Eligible Practice Site Requirements: Eligible Practice Sites must be private practices located in Michigan, Ohio or Indiana. 

Priority Zip Code Preference:

Priority zip codes are those areas in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana that are seen as having the greatest dental workforce shortages. These zip codes have been identified using a combination of factors and are subject to change annually based upon then current data. Applicants working full-time at an Eligible Practice Site that serves any of the priority zip codes will receive additional points during the application review process.  

Priority zip codes in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana are included in the chart below.

2025 Priority Zip Codes – Michigan

2025 Priority Zip Codes – Ohio

2025 Priority Zip Codes – Indiana