Dental Plans

Eligible employees
include full-time Faculty, full-time and part-time: Classified, Managerial, Academic Professionals, Confidentials.

Three dental plans are available which include a traditional fee for service plan and two dental maintenance organization (DMO) plans with low co-pays per visit. Orthodontia benefits are available through one of the plans.

New employees who are benefits eligible must enroll in their choice of dental plan on the first of the month following an initial 30-day waiting period. Changes to dental insurance elections can be made during the fall open enrollment period of each year. These changes become effective on October 1st of each year. Certain “qualifying events” permit enrollment in dental plans mid-year. Consult with a benefits specialist for details.

The three dental plans available to PCC employees with benefits and their families are listed and compared below. The column headings are links to each vendor's web site. To receive more information on any or all of these plans, please fill out this Benefit Materials Request form. To enroll, please use the Benefits Enrollment form.

These dental plans will be replaced in October. All employees must reapply for coverage. Please see the 2008-09 Open Enrollment information.
  Regence BlueCross BlueShield Plan 1 Regence BlueCross BlueShield Dentacare Plan Kaiser
Where to receive services May see any licensed dentist. 
Participating Providers (PAR) will not charge for any balances beyond any deductible and coinsurance amount for covered expenses. Non-participating providers may charge for any balance above usual and customary charges. See the Regence website for provider information.
Services are provided only through Willamette Dental Group (see Dentacare provider list available in Human Resources). Services must be provided by a Kaiser dentist. (see Kaiser website for provider information)
Annual benefit limit per calendar year $1,500 per person None None
Preventative and Basic Services 
Exams, cleanings, fluoride, x-rays, fillings, minor surgery, simple extractions, root canal therapy

70%/80%/90%/100%

Benefits increase 10% each calendar year only if a dentist is seen for covered services.

Fully covered after $10 visit charge 100% after a $5 copay per visit
Prosthetics 
Deductible per calendar year
  • $25 per person
  • $75 per family
None None
Dentures, bridges, inlays, crowns, denture reline, space maintainers 50% after deductible Fully covered after $10 visit charge

$45 copay each tooth

Denture copays vary -- $25 to $95

Orthodontia 
Waiting period No coverage 6 months No coverage
Lifetime Maximum  100% after visit charge plus $1,500 copayment
Deductible None
Age Limit None

Note: This is a brief summary of plan highlights. Refer to the plan booklets and the master contract for details. 

  Employee Only Employee + 1 Employee + Family
Regence BCBS - Plan 1 $34.10 $67.20 $122.70
Regence BCBS - Dentacare $32.35 $61.35 $128.15
Kaiser Permanente $83.72 $167.44 $226.04