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What Basic Plan Members Need to Know About Cigna Dental Plans | ||||
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If you are on the Basic dental plan with the State of Connecticut you might have recently received a letter from the Office of the State Comptroller. Your Cigna dental coverage has been updated - in-network benefits have been enhanced to help you save more, but out-of-network costs may now be higher. Because these changes were not made clear enough to Basic plan participants by Cigna prior to the close of open enrollment, CSEA requested and the Comptroller has now determined that Basic plan participants Members have until October 31, 2025 to review options and make plan changes. In addition, for those that have incurred surprise bills due to this change, Cigna has agreed to reimburse those affected before proper notice was sent (those on the Basic plan that visited their out-of-network dentist during the months of July or August). Here are member choices going forward.
Why the Change?Our plan benefits are always bid out through an RFP process. When United first won the RFP from what had previously been covered by Anthem, their network was substantially smaller than Anthem’s, and United was required to cover any balance due for out-of-network dentists who charged more than the “usual and customary rates” and were unwilling to reduce those charges, until United’s network size matched Anthem’s. That requirement was continued when Cigna won the RFP from United. Cigna’s network size now exceeds Anthem’s, and therefore the requirement to cover that balance for out of network no longer applies. Cigna fully meets the Plan’s size of network requirements. This means that members who are seeing out of network dentists who charge more than the usual and customary rates may now be responsible for those excess charges, in addition to the usual cost share applicable to the particular dental procedure. Again, because those members did not get clear enough notice of the change during the most recent open enrollment, we have secured an additional open enrollment period so members can make an informed decision. Don’t wait until it’s too late—review your dentist’s network status and your dental plan options before the October 31st deadline. Taking a few minutes now to confirm your provider and select the right plan will help you avoid surprise bills and ensure you’re getting the best value for your care. We have attached Form CO-774OE, which you can use if you’d like to switch dental plans during this special open enrollment period. Need Help?
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