Officers - Dental Coverage
The University offers two comprehensive dental plans: the Aetna Columbia Dental Plan (PPO) and the Aetna Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO).
Under the Aetna Columbia Dental Plan (PPO), you can go to a broad range of dentists including dentists participating in the national Aetna Dental Network and the Columbia Preferred Dental Network.
The Columbia Preferred Network gives you access to ColumbiaDoctors Dentistry. This plan network was uniquely designed to support a broad range of dental needs of Columbia University faculty and staff and has added benefits, such as higher annual maximum care allotments when receiving services with in-network providers. Under this plan, you may see an out-of-network dentist, although your cost may be significantly higher.
Using the Dental Plans
Aetna Columbia Dental Plan
Under the Aetna Columbia Dental Plan you can go to a broad range of dentists including dentists participating in the national Aetna Dental Network and the Columbia Preferred Dental Network. The Columbia Preferred Network gives you access to ColumbiaDoctors Dentistry—some of the country’s leaders in oral health care—and provides comprehensive care across all specialties.
This plan network was uniquely designed to support a broad range of dental needs of Columbia University faculty and staff and has added benefits, such as higher annual maximum care allotments when receiving services with in-network providers. Under this plan you may also see an out-of-network dentist, although your cost may be significantly higher.
Dental Maximums and Deductibles
Under the Aetna Columbia Plan, all the dental maximums and deductibles are integrated. This means regardless whether you use a network provider (in the Aetna Dental Network or the Columbia Preferred Dental Network) or an out-of-network provider, the amount paid is applied to all three maximums.
For instance, if you have paid $1,500 to an out-of-network provider, there are no further benefits for an Aetna PPO provider or an out-of network provider because the maximum have already been met. You would have $250 available only for a Columbia University provider since that is a $1750 annual maximum.
Aetna Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO)
Under the Aetna Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO), you choose one primary care dentist in advance from a select group of Aetna in-network providers able to offer lower rates. Please confirm your current dentist is in the DMO network prior to enrolling. Referrals are needed for specialist and dental services are not covered if the provider is out-of-network. Columbia Dentistry does not participate in the DMO network, nor is the DMO available outside the U.S. and in some states.
The University offers two comprehensive dental plans through Aetna.
If you see an Aetna-participating dentist, you will not be billed for any fees that exceed the Aetna negotiated amount. You also do not have to submit any claim forms when you use a network participating dentist. To locate an Aetna participating dentist, go to Vendor Contacts.
When you see a dentist who participates in the Columbia University network, you receive a greater benefit for services.
Locate a Columbia Preferred dentist.
Columbia Preferred dentists are located throughout the tristate area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Columbia Preferred dentists accept reimbursement for services covered at 100% as payment in full. You are not responsible for paying any fees that exceed the network-negotiated fees. You also do not have to submit any claim forms when you use a network participating dentist.
Columbia Preferred Dental Plan Facilities
Visit the Columbia Doctors Dentistry website.
ColumbiaDoctors
1244 Amsterdam Avenue
(near 121st Street)
New York, NY 10027
212-342-2300
and
430 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10027
212-662-4887
CUIMC/Haven Towers
100 Haven Avenue
New York, NY 10032
212-342-0107
ColumbiaDoctors - Midtown
51 West 51st Street
Suite 350
New York, NY 10019
212-326-8520
CUIMC/Presbyterian Hospital and
Vanderbilt Clinic
622 West 168th Street
7th Floor
New York, NY 10032
212-305-4552
Everyone enrolled in the Aetna Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO) plan must go to providers in the Aetna DMO network. To keep your dental care on track, consider selecting your primary care dentist (PCD) now, in advance of your regular checkup or whenever you next require dental care.
- If you have not registered on Aetna’s website, create a user account at aetna.com.
- After logging in, search for primary care dentists under “Find care and pricing”.
- Choose your primary care dentist online or by calling Aetna at 800-773-9326.
A primary care dentist (PCD) helps guide your dental care. You and each family member must each choose a PCD from the Aetna DMO network (does not have to be the same PCD). If you go to a dentist other than your selected PCD, you could end up paying more.
- See your PCD for regular exams and to get referrals if you need specialty care.
- You can change your PCD once a month on your member website. Switch by the 15th day of the current month. The change will start the first day of the next month.
- Pay your share of the cost. This may be a copay, which is a set dollar amount. Or it may be coinsurance, which is a percentage of the dentist’s charge. Have a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA)? You can use those funds to help with these costs.
- No deductible, no claims forms and no yearly dollar limits.
To locate an Aetna DMO participating dentist, go to Vendor Contacts.
The Aetna DMO is only available within certain states and zip codes. If the DMO is not an available option for you on CUBES, it means that your home address is in a zip code where the DMO is not offered. The DMO is not available outside the United States.
Currently, the Aetna DMO is available in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas.
Monthly Pre-Tax Contributions
2024 Monthly Pre-Tax Contributions for Dental (Full-Time Officers)
2024 Monthly Pre-Tax Contributions for Dental (Part-Time Officers)
Dental ID Cards
Aetna will mail a letter confirming your enrollment—not an ID card. Share a copy of this letter with your dentist, or simply give your name, date of birth and member ID number (or your Social Security Number). If you prefer, go to Aetna to download and print an ID card.