Dental Plan Blog

What health care reform means for your dental benefits

We all know that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka PPCA or "health reform legislation") will bring about some major changes in the health care arena. But what about your dental plan?

Although the legislation won't have as profound an effect on dental benefits as it will on medical benefits (and there doesn't appear to be an immediate impact on dental coverage), employers still should take note of one vital thing. The law will affect their dental plans.

However, so many of us are still confused as to how. That's why we've put together this synopsis for you. We've itemized the various PPCA provisions that may, may not and absolutely will not impact your dental benefits.

Let's start off with a rundown of the provisions that won't impact your dental plan. These provisions apply to medical plans only and are as follows:

• Extension of Dependent Age Limit to 26
• Removal of Lifetime Dollar Limits
• Removal of Annual Maximums
• Tax on high-value benefits plans (aka "Cadillac Tax")

Now, on to the provisions that will impact dental coverage. There are two in particular that employers should be aware of. Although the earliest of these provisions doesn't take effect until 2013, employers should definitely take note of them so they can start planning and budgeting for future implications.

These provisions are as follows:

1) New Annual Fee on Health Insurance providers:

Starting in 2013, health insurers will be subject to a new fee to help fund the reform. Each insurer's fee will be based on their specific 2013 market share (total insured premium for health, dental and vision).

Potential impact: Carriers may increase dental benefit prices to reflect the newly assessed fee.

2) Pediatric dental coverage provisions (starting in 2014):

Health insurers will be required to package dental and vision benefits for children with the medical plan as part of "Essential Health Benefits Package" (EHBP). These inclusions are required in both the individual and Small Group market. At this point, standalone dental plans sold through the state-sponsored insurance Exchanges (to be established in 2014) can be used to satisfy the pediatric dental requirement.

Potential impact: Details around this provision are still being clarified although it will potentially impact both the purchase and administration of standalone dental insurance plans. We will certainly keep you up to date on this provision as further details surface.

 

Maxed out on your dental insurance benefits but still need work done?

If you have employer-provided (and paid) dental insurance you can count yourself among the lucky. These plans are an excellent wellness benefit and cover all your routine maintenance from cleanings, to x-rays to fillings. But, as many of us know, dental insurance plans generally have annual maximums (usually  anywhere from $1,000-$1,500 per-year) as well as limits on the number of covered procedures you get each year.

Are you fed up with trying to schedule your major dental treatments to coincide with your dental plan renewal (or waiting until next year's renewal to finish the dental work you've started)?

What if you have a condition such as diabetes and need to get more of a certain procedure (i.e. cleanings) than your plan covers. Wouldn't you like an alternative to paying out-of-pocket?

Enter Universal Dental Plan.

Universal Dental Plan is not only a great dental insurance alternative for those that lack affordable options, it's also a great dental insurance supplement that can pick up where your dental benefits run out. Our affordable discount dental plan offers  members discounts up to 50%  on all dental procedures with no waiting periods, no exclusions, no annual maximums or limits on any type of procedures.

Our plan lets you go to the dentist as much as you need and pay our deeply discounted rates every time.  Also, since there are no claim forms to be filed with Universal Dental Plan, your dental savings are immediate!

If you would like more information on how Universal Dental Plan can SAVE for you, please visit our website  or call us at 617-859-1777. 

Three ways to enhance your dental plan's value through communication

For employers who want to improve the value of their dental benefits, making plan changes is just part of the solution. Effective communication is the next step, and this means providing employees with the meaningful information and tools necessary to understand both their dental benefits and oral health risks.

According to a recent MetLife survey, only 1 in 5 employees know what their dental insurance does and does not cover. This lack of employee knowledge oftentimes results from lackluster employer communication of dental benefit offerings.

The following are three ways employers can enhance their communication of employees' dental benefits.

#1 Promote the importance of oral health and educate employee on oral health risks.

Data from MetLife's survey also revealed that just 9% of employees believe they have beneficial information on oral health available to them. Yet, 28% of employees believe that this information would be of value in helping them understand dental benefit offerings. Employees who know most about their oral health are the ones that are most likely to utilize their plan's covered dental services.

To educate employees on oral health and oral health risks, employers can create a pamphlet, memo or web resource, distribute it to employees and also make it readily available for them to access on a later date. 

#2 Provide complete information on employee coverage.

The survey data also shows that only 35% of employees feel that they have all the information they need to make the best decision on their dental coverage. This means employers have a huge opportunity to educate the remaining 65% of employees with complete coverage information. That way, all employees will understand their benefit offerings, appreciate them and have fewer surprises about what is and is not covered when they get their Explanations of Benefits.

#3 When communicating benefits, use multiple resources

Most employers believe that email and the company website are the most effective tools for communicating employee benefits. Although these tools are great ones to use, employers should not stop there.

Employers should also develop alternative ways to educate their employees on their benefits, dental benefits included. In-person and online seminars  as well as oral risk assessment tools are just a couple of the resources employers can use to round out their dental benefits education.

By applying these three methods, employees will feel the value of the dental benefits you are providing. As a result, their understanding and appreciation of the dental benefits they're offered will grow.