It is one of the most sought-after health care benefit needs, yet most difficult to find: An affordable yet valuable Dental & Vision plan. There are many inexpensive dental & vision discount programs in the industry, but most of these leave much to be desired: If you can even find a provider that accepts the discount card, you find there really isn't much of a "discount". And on the other end of the spectrum, dental & vision insurance has always been overpriced for the coverage. Consumers have been forced to choose the lesser of two evils: Pay little and get little in return, or pay too much and not get enough in return to justify the expense.
Finally, we have a dental/vision program which offers valuable group insurance benefits at an affordable cost : The Health Connections plan from the United Service Association for Health Care (USA+) and TeamCorp.
The plan has three major parts - group dental insurance benefits, group vision insurance benefits, and a medical accident benefit. The dental includes at least $1000 in PAID benefits per family member per year, and is good at ANY dental provider. With the vision benefits (VSP) you get FREE eye exams once per year for each family member, as well as contracted discounts on all eyewear. And not to go overlooked is the accident benefit, which pays you up to $7,500 for expenses incurred due to a medical accident -- and that is per accident, per family member. Even if you have health insurance, that is a tremendous value, as it will pay for your out-of-pocket expenses (deductible, coinsurance, copays, etc).
At only $69 per month for the whole family, Health Connections is one of the most affordable plans of its kind.
The dental and vision benefits alone are worth more than the monthly cost, and the accident benefit is valued at $30 per month by itself (based on the average cost of adding that benefit to a health insurance plan).
Since 1987, United Service Association For Health Care (USA+) has been an industry leader among the nations best healthcare savings programs. The insurance benefits are underwritten by A-Rated insurance companies (Ameritas Life & Chesapeake Life). These are group policies issued to USA+ and made available to members. USA+ offers a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee on the Health Connections plan.
:: Dental Benefits ::::::::::::::
Group insurance benefits with Ameritas Group Dental, underwritten by Ameritas Life Insurance Company.
241 Covered Procedures, including preventative, basic, and major procedures.
Benefits good at ANY dentist in the nation . For providers not in the Ameritas network, members are reimbursed according to the predetermined benefit amounts for each procedure (See Dental Schedule)
Over 55,000 network dentists nationwide in the Ameritas PPO network. Search Dental Providers
At network providers, you are charged only the PPO contracted fee (generally 30% less than national average cost). These are not discounts -- the network providers are contracted to charge these lower fees to Ameritas Group Dental members. Network dentists file the claims directly with Ameritas, so you pay only the difference between the contracted fee and the paid benefit by Ameritas. See chart below for example.
Dental Savings Comparison Chart
Procedure
National Average Cost
Network Dentist Cost
Amount Paid by Ameritas
Your Out-Of-Pocket Cost
Periodic Oral Evaluation
$38
$25
$19
$6
Teeth Cleaning (Child)
$58
$39
$28
$11
Teeth Cleaning (Adult)
$85
$58
$40
$18
Panoramic Film
$80
$55
$33
$22
Extraction–Single Tooth
$106
$73
$39
$34
Network Dentist Fees based on national average (your dentist may be contracted at lower fees). The Paid Ameritas benefit amounts are listed according to the Dental Benefit Schedule (the minimum that Ameritas pays). This chart is for example purposes; your actual charges may vary.
Ameritas Paid Benefits subject to the following:
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$50 deductible (per family member)
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Additional $50 deductible for non-preventative (basic and major) services (per family member)
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Maximum $300 in deductibles per family per calendar year
•
Maximum Paid Benefits: $1000 annually (per family member)
•
For each family member that visits a dentist at least once per year, and does not exceed $500 in paid benefits in that year, that family member's maximum benefit will increase by $250 the following year. Good for up to four consecutive years, or $2000 Annual Maximum benefit per family member.
•
No Waiting Period for preventative and basic services
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12-Month Waiting Period for major services
Better than any discount dental card, you will always save at network dentists by paying only the contracted network fees.
* Ameritas Group Dental benefit is provided to USA+ Members by a group Dental Expense policy issued to USA/HC by an A.M. Best rated insurance company. Certain terms and conditions apply and benefits are subject to the Exclusions and Limitations. A complete description is contained in the Certificate of Coverage.
:: Vision Benefits ::::::::::::::
Group insurance benefits with Ameritas Vision Service Plan (VSP), underwritten by Ameritas Life Insurance Company.
Free Eye Exam once per year, per family member, at VSP providers.
You pay only 20% less than Wholesale price on all lenses (including contacts), frames, and other hardware.
Minimum 15% Discount on contact lens fittings
Up to 25% Discount on laser eye surgery
Vision Savings Comparison Chart
Procedure
National Average Cost
Your Cost at VSP Providers
Eye Exam
$98
$0
Single-Vision Lenses
$73
$32
Eyeglasses Frames
$120
$68
National Average Cost based on a research survey provided by Ingenix, 2002. VSP Provider Cost based on Average Wholesale Cost minus 20%. This chart is for example purposes; your actual charges may vary.
Over 29,000 VSP Providers Nationwide - There is a VSP provider within 10 miles of 90% of the U.S. population. Search VSP Providers
* Ameritas Vision Service Plan benefit is provided to USA+ Members by a group policy issued to USA/HC by an A.M. Best rated insurance company. Certain terms and conditions apply and benefits are subject to the Exclusions and Limitations. A complete description is contained in the Certificate of Coverage.
:: Accident Medical Benefits ::::::::::::::
$7,500 Accident Medical Expense Benefit * - Worldwide coverage pays you up to $7,500 per accidental injury, per family member.
•
Pays for all expenses related to accident, including Hospital or Surgical Care; Prescription Drugs; Doctor's Medical Treatment; X-rays and Lab Exams; Professional Ambulance Service
•
You are paid all expenses up to $7,500, minus a $100 deductible
•
If you have health insurance, this is a great supplemental benefit to cover your health insurance deductible and coinsurance requirements
Accidental Death & Dismemberment * - Pays you lump sum upon death or dismemberment of any family member due to an accident. Benefits pays accordingly:
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Member: $10,000
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Spouse: $5,500
•
Dependent: $2,000
*
This benefit is provided to USA+ Members by a blanket group policy issued to USA/HC by an A.M. Best rated insurance company. Certain terms and conditions apply and benefits are subject to the Exclusions and Limitations. See benefits booklet for details.
:: Additional Benefits ::::::::::::::
PharmaCare Prescription Benefit * - Pay low prices on prescription drugs at time of purchase. 56,000 participating pharmacies,
including most national chains, like: A&P, Albertson's, Big B, Safeway, Rite-Aid, Randall's, KMart, Payless, Kroger, Target, Tom Thumb, Brookshire Brothers, CVS, Harco, Ikes, Osco, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, HEB, Drug Emporium
Express Pharmacy * - Mail order prescriptions right to your door at 25% less than wholesale cost. Receive $25 quarterly credit on long-term medications.
Liberty Medical * - Pay 30% less than wholesale price on diabetic medications and supplies.
Health and Medical Information Tools * - With Best Doctors, MYHEALTHCOMPASS, and Optum Nurseline, you have access to detailed information and professional advice on medical providers, hospitals, health conditions, and treatment options.
* These benefits are discount programs. USA+ has no liability for providing or guaranteeing service or for the quality of service rendered.
Questions about the Health Connections Dental/Vision plan? Give us a call at 1-888-291-0233 or email your questions to info@planbuilderusa.com. Our licensed insurance specialists are happy to discuss the details of this program and answer any questions you might have.
USA+ has purchased certain insurance benefits which are made available to its members. These insurance benefits are provided to USA+ members by a group policy issued by an A.M. Best rated Insurance Company and not by a policy issued to its individual members. Some of the benefits available to our members are NOT INSURANCE and are discount benefits only.
Health Connections and the Health Connections logo are registered trademarks of TeamCorp. USA+ is a registered trademark of the United Service Association for Health Care.
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