CIGNA Offers Four New Dental Plan Options

August 5, 2005 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - CIGNA Dental has introduced CIGNA Dental Care Value Plans offering four different coverage options to help employers balance the needs of their workforce with their plan costs.

According to a company news release, under CIGNA Dental Care Value Plans, employers can choose to limit coverage for crowns and bridges to the less costly, professionally accepted, necessary, and appropriate method of treatment for restoration or replacement of teeth.   Members can choose the alternate, more expensive, treatment by paying the difference in cost.

Employers can also determine whether to offer coverage for specialty dental care or to provide a less costly plan that gives employees access to specialty discounts.   They can also choose to implement a $5 office visit fee.

The four plan options listed in the release are:

  • A benefit plan that provides coverage for specialty dental care, including orthodontics; while limiting coverage of crowns and bridges to the less costly, professionally accepted, and appropriate method of treatment.
  • A benefit plan that provides coverage for specialty dental care, excluding orthodontics; while limiting coverage of crowns and bridges to the less costly, professionally accepted, and appropriate method of treatment.
  • A benefit plan that does not limit coverage for crowns and bridges; but provides a specialty discount instead of insurance coverage for specialty dental care.
  • A benefit plan that provides a specialty discount instead of insurance coverage for specialty dental care while limiting coverage of crowns and bridges to the less costly, professionally accepted, and appropriate method of treatment.  

The CIGNA Dental HMO network includes 24,900 dentists at 5,645 facilities.    Most preventative treatment is covered at 100%.

The new plans will be available September 1, 2005.

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