How to Choose a Dental Plan And Health Insurance

Information
As you move on from Duke, we would like you to be aware of your health insurance coverage options. Some of you will be moving on to jobs that offer health insurance coverage. For those who are not, you have several options:

• Recent reforms in the Affordable Care Act allow young adults to be covered under a parent's health insurance plan until the age of 26. The Department of Heath and Human Services (HHS) has posted a Facebook page to guide you through this option. This link offers information for both students and parents. Talk with your parents to see if this is a good option for you.

Dental Plan    

The cost of dentistry is what keeps more than half of consumers away from the dentist for years at a time, according to a survey by the American Dental Association. Most dental costs are easy to anticipate, though, except for emergencies, such as breaking a tooth.dental and health insurance Plans Less obvious dental needs often can be predicted by regular, routine checkups that include diagnostic x-rays to assess the overall condition of the teeth,Other needs to consider are whether you or a family member may require specialty care, such as braces or other orthodontia, dentures or tooth implants or crowns or bridges. These generally are not covered as extensively as routine care, such as exams and fillings.
Dental Insurance
Duke offers employees a choice of dental care plans, depending on the level of coverage faculty, staff and their family members may need. Both plans cover preventive, basic, and major services, but they differ in how they pay for covered services. Under each plan, participants can visit any licensed dentist.
health insurance
Does the student health insurance cover dental services? No, but the Aetna Student Health plans offer a dental discount program that students can purchase separately. Vital Savings on Dental by Aetna is a dental discount program helping you and your dependents save on a wide array of dental services - with a special student price. The cost for students is $25 annually and provides coverage from September 1st through August 31st . Students can enroll themselves and one dependent for $44, or themselves plus two or more dependents for $63.Medical and Health Insurance Does the student health insurance cover prescription drugs? No, however, there is a pharmacy located in Health Services on the Tempe Campus where students enrolled in the Aetna Student Health Plan receive a additional 5% discount on the already reduced price prescriptions.

Dental Coverage
Your health insurance covers just about everything except your teeth. When it’s time to head to the dentist, your health insurance likely turns a blind eye to your ailing chompers, but that’s not to say that a trip to the dentist isn’t going to take a bite out of your wallet. Much like your car, it doesn’t take much to spend a thousand dollars or more. A crown may cost $1,500, and a root canal might run you $300 to $1,000. Even a simple cleaning will likely come in at more than $100. Dentists aren’t cheap and that’s why dental insurance coverage may be appropriate for you.
Benefit Changes for 2012-13
Preventive care services will be available to SMIP subscribers at 100% coverage. Please refer to this link provided by BCBSNC for specific services covered. Please visit the StudentBlue website atfor additional information concerning the student medical insurance.

• STI screening will be covered at 100% (there will be a limit on the number of annual screenings).
• Generic oral contraceptives will be covered at 100%.
• There will be no limit on the number of visits with Dietitians.
• The immunization benefit limit (currently $500) will be removed (immunizations covered by the plan are subject to CDC and AAP guidelines).

With the addition of these enhanced benefits, we are excited to announce that there will be a modest premium increase of only 3% for the new plan year. Please see below for the new rates.