CU introduces two new dental plans for Open Enrollment
Closer examination
Watch a video comparison of the two dental options and see plan details on the Dental Plans page.
The University of Colorado will offer two new dental plans during this year’s Open Enrollment, which runs through May 12.
CU Health Plan - Essential Dental will replace the EPO dental plan.
CU Health - Plan Choice Dental will replace the PPO dental plan.
If benefits-eligible faculty and staff do not take action to select a new plan, they will be automatically transferred on July 1 to a new plan at their current plan year coverage level. See the auto-enrollment page for details.
Administered by Delta Dental, both plans cover all costs of preventive services, which include as many as four cleanings per year and services like oral exams, X-rays, sealants and fluoride treatments. With the new plan year, diagnostic and preventive services no longer count toward annual benefit maximums. Plus, rates for both plans are decreasing.
Both plans cover children under age 13 in the Right Start 4 Kids program, which this pays 100 percent of all covered in-network services with the exception of orthodontics.
“I am excited to share the details about the Right Start 4 Kids program,” said Michelle Martinez, director of benefits at Employee Services. “This program not only removes those cost barriers for the parents, it supports parents as they teach their children the importance of good oral hygiene. I firmly believe if your children develop a positive relationship with their dentist at a very early age, it will continue as they grow into teens and eventually become adults.”
New features of CU Health Plan – Essential Dental
In the Essential plan, enrollees may only visit dentists in Delta Dental’s PPO network. This plan has a $25 yearly deductible and a $2,000 plan-year maximum per person.
The Essential plan features co-insurance, meaning enrollees pay a percentage of the cost for a procedure. This is a change from the EPO plan’s co-pays, where enrollees paid a set price for a service.
“In many cases, you’ll pay less for services,” Martinez said.
Looking at some examples from the CU Health and Welfare Trust, which based its estimates on rates from Denver’s most highly utilized dentists, members should pay less for most procedures – a root canal will typically cost $50 less on average, periodontal scaling will cost $19 less and a filling will cost about $6 less.
Other new features:
- Implants now covered
- Periodontal cleanings now 100 percent covered
- Orthodontic coverage lifetime maximum reduced from $4,000 to $2,000
- Adults are no longer eligible for orthodontic benefit
Important to note, adults currently receiving orthodontic treatment through the EPO dental plan will need to select CU Health Plan-Choice Dental to retain adult orthodontic coverage.
New features of CU Health Plan – Choice Dental
In the Choice plan, enrollees can see the dentist of their choice, whether it’s a dentist in the Delta PPO network, the Delta Premiere network or out of network. However, costs are significantly lower when using a PPO network dentist.
The plan’s annual deductible has reduced from $50 to $25 a person. Its annual benefit maximum has increased from $2,000 to $2,500.
Other new features:
- Periodontal cleanings now fully covered
- Posterior composites and implants now covered
- Orthodontic coverage maximum increased to $4,000 from $2,000
- Adults are now eligible for orthodontic benefits
Choose the best options for you
CU faculty and staff have until 5 p.m. May 12 to choose their benefits plans. The Benefits Enrollment Tool will be unavailable from 6-10 p.m. May 4 as part of system maintenance. Please plan accordingly.