New dental plan carrier coming

Delta Dental of Ohio will be UC’s dental carrier as of Jan. 1, 2021. Employees enrolled in a UC dental plan will become enrolled under the Delta Dental PPO (Point of Service) Plan and will have access to two of the nation’s largest networks of participating dentists. Nearly 90% of UC employees currently utilize a dentist in the Delta Dental network and 98% have access to a Delta dentist within 20 miles of their home address. (Today, 44% of participants use an Anthem network dentist.) Plan participants can continue to utilize any dentist claims will be reimbursed on the same basis as they are with a participating Delta Dental dentist.  Delta Dental offers an expanded network of oral surgeons as well. Employees will receive a Delta Dental of Ohio ID card before the end of the calendar year. ID cards will be issued in the name of the UC employee only; enrolled family members may use the card as well.

There are no plan design changes to the AAUP Dental Plan. Delta Dental of Ohio will replace Anthem as the dental plan carrier for the AAUP and the Non-AAUP plans.

Two of our three remaining Non-AAUP dental plans will be renamed: The High Plan will be renamed as the Comprehensive Dental Plan and the High Ortho Plan will be renamed the Comprehensive Dental Plus Ortho Plan.

The university will continue to offer a premium-free Basic Dental Plan with same coverage as is provided today.

The Basic Ortho Plan will be discontinued. Employees in the Basic Ortho Plan will have the option of enrolling in the Basic Dental Plan, the Comprehensive Dental Plan or the Comprehensive Dental Plus Ortho Plan. Those enrolled in the Basic Ortho Plan who do not make a new election during Annual Enrollment will be defaulted into the Basic Plan effective Jan. 1, 2021.

The following enhancements will be made to the Comprehensive Dental Plan and the Comprehensive Dental Plus Ortho Plan:

• The Comprehensive Plan will feature an increased annual plan maximum (the annual maximum benefit is currently $1,000 and will increase to $1,500) providing you and your family with a greater level of coverage each year. 
• The Comprehensive Dental Plus Ortho Plan will include improved coverage for Major Dental services (e.g., crowns, dentures and bridges). Major dental expense will be reimbursed at 80% of the allowed expense rather than 60%.  The Plan will continue to include orthodontic coverage for children up to age 19 with a $2,000 lifetime orthodontic maximum.

Individual and family deductibles will be modified slightly beginning in 2021.

For more information including an updated Dental Plan comparison chart, 2021 rate information and information regarding additional Delta Dental Plan features, visit and log onto the Dental Insurance page on the Bearcats Landing intranet.

Questions may be directed to benefits@uc.edu.