Dental Insurance
for Grad Employees & Postdocs
The Altus Dental plan is free for eligible Graduate Student Employees & Postdocs.
Plan features:
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100% coverage for preventative care, like exams and up to 4 cleanings/plan year
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80% coverage for procedures like fillings
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65% coverage for more involved procedures, like crowns
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TMJ coverage
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Orthodontic for adults and coverage for children to age 19
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$2250 calendar year maximum
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Fluoride treatment for all covered members for a total of two treatments per year @ 100%
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Athletic mouth guards for dep children under age 19 once every 24 months covered @ 65%
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Teeth Whitening once per arch every 60 months covered @ 65%
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Reimbursement for out-of-network benefits will be based on the 95th percentile of “reasonable and customary”
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$0 deductible when you see an in-network dentist (a once per year deductible applies for out-of-network providers: $75 for individuals and an aggregate $225 for families.)
Note: please review the plan in full before using insurance.
Eligibility and Cost
Who can be covered? Eligible Graduate Employees & Postdocs, their dependent spouses, same and opposite sex domestic partners, and children up to age 26 can be covered with the Altus Dental plan. No other family members are eligible for coverage under the plan.
Cost: The dental plan is free for eligible Grad Employees & Postdocs. Family plans are available with a premium contribution. The Trust Fund subsidizes the cost of the Single+1 Plan and Family Plan to ensure the employee premium is affordable.
Coverage Cost for Grad Employees:
Single: FREE
Single + 1 Plan: (you + a spouse/partner OR child): $100/year
Family Plan: (you + multiple dependents): $100/year
Coverage Cost for Postdoc Employees:
Single: FREE
Single + 1 Plan: (you + a spouse/partner OR child): $10/month
Family Plan: (you + multiple dependents): $20/month
Finding a dentist
In the "Your Plan" field, where it asks about the "Connection Dental Network," select "Yes" as shown below. Then enter your location information.
Questions? Call Customer Connections department at 877-223-0588 or email customerservice@altusdental.com. You should always confirm that your dentist or facility is participating in our network at the time you make your appointment.
Wisdom Teeth
Oral surgery is covered under our Altus dental plan at 80%.
If you're a graduate employee also covered by the UMass student health plan, it is important to note that removal of impacted wisdom teeth is also covered by that plan at 95%.
If you're a graduate employee having impacted wisdom teeth removed, provide both your Cigna/Wellfleet student health plan information and your Altus Dental plan information to the provider and ask that the Cigna/Wellfleet plan be billed first in order ot maximize your coverage. Click here to learn more about wisdom teeth coverage for grad employees.
Using Benefits Out-of-Network
While you maximize your benefits when seeing an Ameritas dentist, you can still choose to go out-of-network. Reimbursement for your out-of-network benefits are based on the 95th percentile of “reasonable and customary” charges (see description for details). To request out-of-network reimbursement, submit the claim form to:
Altus Dental Insurance Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 1557
Providence, RI 02901-1557
Be sure to attach your receipt from the dental office.
If you have More than One Dental Plan
Pretreatment Estimates
It's important to ask your dentist for a pre-treatment estimate prior to having any procedures beyond basic cleanings. That way, you'll know in advance exactly what portion of the costs your benefits will cover and what you will be required to pay out of pocket.
Benefits Plan Year
The benefit plan year is 9/1 to 8/31. This means that your $2250 plan year maximum renews each year on 9/1, as well as your deductible responsibility.