COVID-19 Update for Our Employer Groups
Delta Dental of Tennessee
As we continue to navigate this time of uncertainty together, we want to reaffirm our commitment to you. Our call center has returned to regular business operations, Monday through Friday, 7 am to 5 pm central. We are also working in the community to help educate the public that preventive dental care is essential care and assure everyone that the dental offices are taking great precautions for the safety of their patients. Our president and CEO Phil Wenk is supporting this effort and has an opinion piece that is now running Tennessean.com and USA Today Network media outlets across the state, which you can read by clicking here.
To assist you during this time, we reduced premiums for June and July by 25%. For our fully-insured groups, this was discounted from your full premiums for those two months, which were billed in May and June. Our Administrative Service Contracts groups received the reduction off your administrative fees, also billed in May and June.
We have also temporarily incorporated these policies:
- Waiving minimum billing requirements through the month of June
- Waiving re-hire waiting periods
- Waiving minimum hours per week for eligibility
Your Sales & Account Management team is available via phone, email, and video conference to assist you.
You and your employees have access to important information—such as benefits, eligibility, claim status, locating a provider and ordering an ID card—through our secure Member Portal for our members, and Benefit Manager’s Toolkit for group administrators. Access is also available through our interactive voice response (IVR) system at 1-800-223-3104, and our Customer Service Representatives are available Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Central time, to assist you as well.
We will continue to share further updates as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have compiled a list of questions that our account managers have received so far from employers across the state. We hope they will help ease some of your concerns during this time.
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If an employer has to layoff or furlough employees, will the employees have to meet the new hire eligibility period upon rehire?
No, during the COVID-19 National Emergency, Delta Dental of Tennessee will waive the new hire eligibility period for rehires.
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Can employees on furlough remain active on the dental plan?
Yes, employees on furlough can remain on the dental plan as long as the employer continues to report the employees as active and pays the monthly premium.
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Will Delta Dental of Tennessee waive the minimum number of hours worked per week for employees to remain eligible for coverage?
Yes, during the COVID-19 National Emergency, Delta Dental of Tennessee will waive the minimum number of hours worked per week.
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Is Delta Dental of Tennessee offering “premium holidays” to clients impacted by COVID-19?
We are not offering “premium holidays.” If paying premiums is a concern at this time, send a request to your account management team at Delta Dental of Tennessee with an explanation of your request, including the payment extension you are requesting. Someone from our Finance Department will be in touch with you within a week.
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How can I help my employees understand what a dental emergency might be?
Delta Dental of Tennessee has created a page to help its members find resources and information. It includes information from the American Dental Association on what constitutes a dental emergency and other pertinent information. View the employee page.
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Given the situation with COVID-19, does Delta Dental of Tennessee offer teledentistry consultations to plan members?
Yes, we will temporarily make allowances for teledentistry. Unless there is a specific exclusion per a group contract, Delta Dental of Tennessee will cover Problem Focused Examinations whether provided in a dental office or virtually, effective March 20, 2020, until further notice. These limited exams help a dentist determine if the patient needs to be seen for emergency purposes.
Important Resources
Below you will find a list of nationally and locally available resources for businesses in Tennessee.
State of Tennessee Coronavirus Resources
Department of Labor (DOL)—Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for Coronavirus