Dental Insurance

The Altus Dental plan is free for eligible Graduate Student Employees & Postdocs.

Plan Highlights

100% coverage for preventative care, like exams and up to 4 cleanings/plan year
80% coverage for procedures like fillings
65% coverage for more involved procedures, like crowns
TMJ coverage
Orthodontic for adults and coverage for children to age 19
$2250 calendar year maximum
Fluoride treatment for all covered members for a total of two treatments per year @ 100%
Athletic mouth guards for dep children under age 19 once every 24 months covered @ 65%
Teeth Whitening once per arch every 60 months covered @ 65%
Reimbursement for out-of-network benefits will be based on the 95th percentile of “reasonable and customary”
$0 deductible when you see an in-network dentist (a once per year deductible applies for out-of-network providers: $75 for individuals and an aggregate $225 for families.)

Note: please review the plan in full before using insurance.

Download List of In-Network Dentists

See Benefits Summary

NEW for Plan Year 2024-25:

Ask your Dentist if you're eligible for SmileMore from Altus Dental, a FREE program for high-risk dental patients.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Altus Dental plan, you must be one of the following:

A Trust Fund-eligible graduate employee or postdoc
a dependent spouse to a Trust Fund-eligible graduate employee or postdoc
a same or opposite sex domestic partner to a Trust Fund-eligible graduate employee or postdoc
children of a Trust Fund-eligible graduate employee or postdoc up to age 26

No other family members are eligible for coverage under the plan.

Coverage Cost for Grad Employees:

Single: FREE
Single + 1 Plan: (you + a spouse/partner OR child): $100/year
Family Plan: (you + multiple dependents): $100/year

Coverage Cost for Postdocs:

Single: FREE
Single + 1 Plan: (you + a spouse/partner OR child): $10/month
Family Plan: (you + multiple dependents): $20/month

Finding a Dentist

Go to Altus Dentist Search

In the "Your Plan" field, where it asks about the "Connection Dental Network," select "Yes" as shown below. Then enter your location information.

Questions? Call Customer Connections department at 877-223-0588 or email customerservice@altusdental.com.You should always confirm that your dentist or facility is participating in our network at the time you make your appointment.

Note: When you are using the dental plan outside of MA, RI and VT, please let the provider know you have the Connection Dental and Dentemax Network. These networks are what makes our policy national.

Wisdom Teeth

Learn About Coverage For Wisdom Teeth

Using Benefits Out-of-Network

Submit a Claim

While you maximize your benefits when seeing an Ameritas dentist, you can still choose to go out-of-network. Reimbursement for your out-of-network benefits are based on the 95th percentile of “reasonable and customary” charges (see description for details). To request out-of-network reimbursement, submit your claim form (above) to:

Altus Dental Insurance Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 1557
Providence, RI 02901-1557

Be sure to attach your receipt from the dental office.

Pretreatment Estimates

It's important to ask your dentist for a pre-treatment estimate prior to having any procedures beyond basic cleanings. That way, you'll know in advance exactly what portion of the costs your benefits will cover and what you will be required to pay out of pocket.

If You Have More Than One Dental Plan

View the Altus Coordination of Benefits Policy

Benefits Plan Year

The benefit plan year is 9/1 to 8/31. This means that your $2250 plan year maximum renews each year on 9/1, as well as your deductible responsibility.