Arizona State Retirement Dental Insurance

What Does Dental Insurance Cover

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You probably already know theres a set list of benefits that your insurance provider needs to offer you if you have an independent health insurance plan. Dental insurance companies dont have to follow any such set of rules and are free to pick and choose which services they want to cover. This means that you can get 10 quotes from 10 different insurance companies with 10 completely different benefits.

The most common dental insurance benefits schedule is the 100-80-50 schedule. If you have a 100-80-50 plan, it means that your insurance will cover:

100% of preventive care costs: Preventive care includes treatments like exams, X-rays and cleanings. Many dental insurance plans cover 100% of your preventive care costs.
80% of basic service costs: Basic services include procedures like cavity fillings, root canals and simple tooth extractions. Many dental insurance companies cover 80% of the cost of basic services, though some only offer 70% coverage.
50% of major service costs: Major services include procedures like bridges, crowns and denture molds. Many dental insurance companies cover 50% of the cost of major services.

Keep in mind that each individual company can choose which services fall into each category. For example, some companies consider root canals to be basic procedures, while others classify them as major procedures.

What To Look For In A Dental Insurance Provider

Arizona residents have dozens of dental insurance plan providers you can choose from. How can you possibly know that youre picking the best plan? Search for these 3 essential features to ensure that youre getting the most for your money:

Availability in your area: Like most types of insurance, dental insurance is region-specific. Make sure that your dental insurance provider of choice offers coverage in your ZIP code before you commit to a plan.

A low deductible: An insurance plan deductible is the minimum amount of money you need to spend on your own dental care costs before your insurance starts footing the bill. Choose a plan with a low deductible that you can afford.
A high annual maximum benefit cap: Most dental insurance plans include a cap on the number of cash benefits you can claim from your insurance each year to ensure profitability. Choose a plan with a high annual cap especially if youre at risk for a chronic or very expensive dental procedure.

Delta Dental Ppo Plus Premier

A Dental Preferred Provider Organization Plan.

Services can be obtained in-Network or out-of-Network but will have higher costs for out-of-Network services.
Additionally, there are in-Network and out-of-Network deductibles that must be met.

ID Cards

When you enroll in dental benefits you will receive a dental ID card within a few weeks. You can also access your ID card via the insurance companys website or app. If you need assistance before you can retrieve your card information, contact your carrier. See the information below.
2022 Current Cigna enrollees – The ID card you have will be the same for 2022.
2022 Current Delta Dental enrollees – You will receive a new card in early January.

2022 New enrollees/carrier change – You will receive a new card in early January.

Osteoporosis Medications & Oral Health

For people who take bone-strengthening medications such as those used to treat osteoporosis, related osteonecrosis of the jaw can develop after dental treatments that involve the bone. This is known as antiresorptive therapy and is common today. Let’s take a look at this connection between certain medications and oral health.

Senior Dental Plans And Dentures

Dentures are often available under most dental insurance plans and dental savings/discount programs. However, under most traditional dental insurance programs members will have to wait a year or more to qualify for denture-related services. The good news is, that most dental discount plans offer some level of denture coverage within days of enrollment for a small annual enrollment fee. Furthermore, its important to check each plan carefully to see if there is a pre-existing condition clause that prohibits dentures and repairs unless the teeth are lost or broken during a period of coverage under their policy.

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Types Of Dental Coverage

Its important to understand the different dental insurance plans you can choose from. Youll usually see 3 main types of dental insurance plans offered when you browse:

Dental health maintenance organizations operate as a health insurance HMO. Your insurance company will give you a list of in-network dental service providers when you sign onto a plan. Youll need to see a provider who works within your network if you want to use your benefits. DHMOs give you less freedom to choose which service providers you see, but theyre an affordable option if you want to save on coverage.

Preferred provider organizations help you see any dental service provider you like and still use your benefits. You can usually save some money by seeing an in-network provider, there is no requirement that you see one. PPOs are more expensive but can be ideal for families who already have a dentist.
Benefit/referral plans are very low-cost plans that grant you a discount on dental services if you see an in-network dentist. Benefit plans arent technically a form of insurance because they dont pay for any percentage of your treatment, so we wont include them in our review.

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Arizona Department Of Transportation Offers A Comprehensive Benefits Package That Includes These Features:

Vacation
10 paid holidays per year
Optional: Short-term disability, deferred compensation and supplemental life insurance

Please visit the Benefits Services Division of the Arizona Department of Administration to learn more about the benefits of working for the state government.

Arizona State Government is an EOA/ADA reasonable Accommodation Employer.

Note: Elective benefits for new employees may be subject to a 90-day waiting period.

Im Planning To Keep Working Past 65 Do I Have To Enroll In Medicare While Im Still Working

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Medicare Part A, the hospital coverage, is premium-free, and UA employees should enroll when they turn 65. If you are not yet retired, you can apply for Medicare through the Social Security Administration website or visit the Tucson Social Security Office at 3808 N. First Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719 Phone: 772-1213.

As long as you remain benefits eligible, you are able to continue your UA-provided health insurance rather than enrolling in Medicare Parts B and D. Be aware that enrolling in both Medicare and ADOA/UA health insurance costs you two premiums and provides duplicate coverage.

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How Much Is Senior Dental Insurance

Standalone dental insurance plans can range anywhere from $30 per month to over $100 monthly for individual plans, with family programs averaging triple those estimates depending on coverage levels. Deductibles typically average between $50-$150 per year, but some plans offer a one-time deductible for premium policies. The most affordable option for those seeking temporary or low-cost care can invest between $75 and $150 in a dental insurance discount program that offers enrollees substantial discounts on all services beginning within days of signing up. Costs will vary for all types of coverage by state, age, the number of enrollees and your program selection.

Arizona State Retirement System

All retiring employees from ASRS, PSPRS and Optional Retirement Plan , have additional health and dental plan options available through the Arizona State Retirement System . If enrolled in the ASRS heath care retiree plans all premium payments, open enrollments, and qualified life event changes will happen through ASRS. Please be aware of mail and email you receive from them, especially every fall during open enrollment.

To find out about on the health care options available through ASRS call 800.621.3778 or go https://www.azasrs.gov/content/health-care

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What I Really Want To Know Is How Much My Pension Will Be How Do I Find Out

Unfortunately, Human Resources cannot calculate your pension benefits. You will need to contact your retirement plan representative to discuss retirement income estimates. If youre not sure which retirement plan you are contributing to, you can look on your Benefits Summary in UAccess or contact the Human Resources Solutions team at 621-3660.

So What Are My Retiree Health Insurance Options

AZ State Retirement System Dental Enrollees

Whether you are enrolled in the UA Optional Retirement Plan or the Arizona State Retirement System , you are eligible to enroll in health insurance through either ASRS or ADOA.

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Important: To continue your ADOA health insurance, you must enroll in ADOA coverage within 30 days of your retirement date. If you decline or cancel your coverage, you will not be able to re-enroll with ADOA in the future. If you choose to keep either medical or dental coverage through ADOA, you may elect either or both during future Open Enrollment periods. However, you may decline retiree coverage through ASRS initially, but elect coverage during future Open Enrollment periods.

What Are My Options For Phased Retirement

The answer depends on whether you are enrolled in the Optional Retirement Plan or Arizona State Retirement System .

Optional Retirement Plan

Employees in the ORP have the option to negotiate a three-year phased retirement agreement with their dean or vice-president. Phased retirement allows you to take distributions from your ORP account while gradually reducing your workload and hours.

New Dental Providers For 2021 Retiree Group Insurance

The Arizona State Retirement System has selected two new dental insurance providers for the Retiree Group Dental Services program, beginning January 1, 2021.

Delta Dental of Arizona and Cigna Health were selected after a solicitation for bids was held. The contracts were approved on April 20.

The ASRS will conclude its current five-year contract for ASRS Group Dental Services with Sun Life Financial on December 31, 2020.

An evaluation committee comprised of ASRS staff and assisted by an external benefits consultant and members of the ASRS Health Insurance Advisory Committee , met throughout January, February and March to evaluate the proposals. Based on the evaluation criteria, the new vendors will provide fully insured DPPO and DHMO options as well as a self-insured ASO option.

Details of the new plans as well as premiums will be available in materials provided to all retirees during the annual Open Enrollment period in the fall.

Approximately 90,000 retirees and dependents participate in current ASRS group dental plans, which continue unchanged through the end of this calendar year.

The ASRS would like to extend its appreciation to the Health Insurance Advisory Committee, comprised of representatives of various retiree associations and public employers, who provided valuable input from the employer and retiree perspectives.

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What Does Dental Insurance Not Cover

Though each individual dental insurance company can choose which services it covers, there are a few areas that wont be covered:

Cosmetic treatments: No insurance company covers dental treatments that arent medically necessary. Teeth whitening and cosmetic veneers are 2 examples of services youll need to cover out of pocket.
Preexisting conditions: Unlike health insurance companies, dental insurance companies dont need to extend coverage to preexisting dental conditions. If you have a chronic oral health issue, expect your insurance company to limit your benefits.
Orthodontia: Orthodontic treatments are often medically necessary to correct oral health issues. However, most dental insurance companies exclude orthodontics from coverage. The best dental insurance plans do offer orthodontic benefits but these treatments are almost always limited to children on your plan.

Official University Retirement Status

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To be eligible to receive official University retirement benefits, an individual must:

Be considered in retirement status by receiving a distribution from a retirement program recognized by the State of Arizona
Be at least fifty years of age

Have completed five years of continuous, benefits-eligible employment in the Arizona University System immediately preceding retirement and
Have not been terminated for cause by the University.

Retirees who qualify for Official Retirement Status have access to the following benefits:

Free parking permit, for pre-defined locations
Extension of UA email privileges
Continuation of Qualified Tuition Reduction/Domestic Partner Tuition Program benefits for self and family

Discounts at UA BookStores and for season tickets for athletic events
Campus Recreation Center membership

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Public Safety Personnel Retirement System

The Public Safety Personnel Retirement System is a special retirement system created by the state Legislature for certain full-time certified peace officers and full-time firefighters in the state of Arizona. The System provides a uniform, consistent and equitable statewide retirement program to these public safety personnel who are regularly assigned to hazardous duty of the type expected of peace officers or firefighters. The System is designed to meet the special needs of personnel engaged in hazardous duty situations.

PSPRS normal retirement is the first day of the calendar month following a members completion of 25 years of service and attainment of age 52 1/2. Pension payments begin on the last day of the retirement month.

For more information on PSPRS, go to their website www.psprs.com

Cigna Dental Care Access

A Dental Health Maintenance Organization Plan with no deductibles or dollar limits.
Services must be obtained from an in-Network provider.
Out-of-Network services are only covered in emergency situations.

Residents of these states cannot enroll in the Cigna DHMO: AK, ME, MT, NH, NM, ND, PR, SD, VT, USVI, and WY.

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How Does Medicare Work In Combination With My Ua

As long as you are a UA employee covered under the ADOA or UA Alternative health plan, you are not required to enroll in Medicare Part B. Nor would it be cost-effective to do so, as you would be largely duplicating coverage.

Once you are retired, if you enroll in Medicare Part B, your retiree medical plan will function as a secondary plan. Medicare is billed first, and the retiree plan would cover only what Medicare does not cover. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan , then you may want to consider discontinuing your retiree plan, as Part C provides comprehensive coverage.

For more information contact the Social Security Administration at 772-1213 or the Pima Council on Aging at 546-2011.

Why Is Dental Insurance Important For Seniors

As we age, our oral health becomes more complicated and yet more detrimental to overall wellbeing. Seniors have special needs such as dealing with gum disease, root decay, broken or lost teeth and even arthritic conditions that can lead to dental problems. Retiring seniors especially need to begin looking for a plan to avoid costly coverage gaps, as Medicare offers no type of dental coverage in general.

Most dental insurance companies offer an array of plans that range from basic preventive-only coverage and discount savings plans to comprehensive traditional packages and gold-level plans. Except for dental discount plans, most programs have a six-month or longer waiting period, especially for major dental work coverage to kick in. This makes finding a new policy before losing any current coverage essential for seniors.

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State Of Arizona Mandatory Retirement Programs

Classified Staff participate in the Arizona State Retirement System .

Public Safety Personnel participate in the Public Safety State Retirement System .
Employees not designated above may make a one-time, irrevocable election to join either the Arizona State Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Plan . Eligible employees must elect a retirement plan within 30 calendar days of their eligibility date. An employee who fails to elect a plan within 30 days will permanently default to membership in the ASRS.

What Is Rasl And Do I Qualify

RASL, Retiree Accumulated Sick Leave, is a benefit offered to state employees who have amassed 500 or more hours of unused sick leave. You can receive a payout for part of the value of that time upon retirement. Note: You must apply for a distribution from the ORP or a pension from ASRS no later than 31 calendar days after your termination of employment. You also must submit the RASL application to the UA Division of Human Resources no later than 150 days after your last day of work (to ensure processing by 180 days after retirement. If these deadlines are missed, you will forfeit the RASL benefit so it is wise to complete all paperwork prior to your last day of work.

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Smile Brighter With Affordable Coverage

Buying dental insurance can be expensive. The best way to ensure that youre not overpaying for coverage is to get at least 5 quotes from competing companies before you make your choice. Getting a quote takes just a few minutes, and most companies now allow you to see your policy options online.

Devote an afternoon to seeing all of your dental insurance options you wont be able to save if you dont know whats out there.