We Have the Answers |
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How
does the dental plan work?
SafeGuard dental
plans are designed to be easy
to understand and use.
There are no waiting periods,
claim forms, maximums or yearly
deductibles. Dental
care is provided by a general
dentist you select from SafeGuard’s
wide network of dental care
professionals.
The plan covers more than
245 procedures along with
a co-payment (the amount
you pay the dentist for
each procedure). Coverage
focuses on preventive care
but specialty care is also
available (without a referral)
at a discount.
For more information about
covered procedures, co-payments
and exclusions and limitations
please refer to the Schedule
of Benefits available on
"The Plans" page.
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What
benefits are there for services
that are not listed?
Even if a service
is not listed on the SafeGuard
Schedule of Benefits, it will
still be covered by a SafeGuard
general dentist or specialist
at 75% of the usual fee. |
Who
can enroll in SafeGuard plans?
You and your
dependents that live within
the SafeGuard service area
are eligible to enroll
in the plans. The following
qualify as your dependent
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Your lawful spouse
or domestic partner
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Your unmarried children
up to the age of 25
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Your children who are
unable to support themselves
due to developmental
or physical disability
and who depend on you
for their support
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How
do you choose the dentists
for your network?
SafeGuard contracts with
private practice dentists
as well as dentists who
practice in clinic environments.
SafeGuard recruits and monitors
its network to ensure it
is well balanced in terms
of location and language
spoken.
SafeGuard contracted dentists
are held to very high standards
of quality. Before
a dentist is accepted into
SafeGuard’s network, an
in-depth review is conducted
of the dentist’s
In addition, ongoing
audits are conducted in
the SafeGuard offices
and those of its contracted
providers to meet state
requirements and ensure
the care you receive meets
the highest standards.
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My
dentist isn’t on your list
– is it possible to add
them?
SafeGuard welcomes the
nominations of dentists
by plan members and makes
every effort to accommodate
your requests. Nominations
can be called in to our
Customer Service representatives
or you can submit them by
regular mail or e-mail.
We will contact your dentist
promptly with an invitation
to join our network. We
cannot guarantee that your
dentist will agree to participate
or qualify for the network,
but we do guarantee to invite
them to apply to participate.
Customer Service
PO Box 3594
Laguna Hills, CA 92654-3594
Tel: 800.880.1800
Email: web.cust.serv@safeguard.net
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When
does my plan become effective?
The date your dental &
vision coverage becomes
effective is based on when
SafeGuard receives your
application and payment
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Annually
by Credit Card
If your application
and payment are received
by the 25th of the
month, you will be
able to use your benefits
on the first day of
the following month
(e.g., received by
March 25, your benefits
will be effective
April 1; after March
25, your benefits
will be effective
May 1).
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Annually
by Check or Money
Order (Send in Payment)
If your application
and payment are received
by the 20th of the
month, you will be
able to use your benefits
on the first day of
the following month
(e.g., received by
March 20, your benefits
will be effective
April 1; after March
20, your benefits
will be effective
May 1).
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Monthly Bank
Draft
If your application
and payment are received
by the 10th of the
month, you will be
able to use your benefits
on the first day of
the following month
(e.g., received by
March 10, your benefits
will be effective
April 1; after March
10, your benefits
will be effective
May 1).
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Monthly Credit
Card Draft
If your application
and payment are received
by the 25th of the
month, you will be
able to use your benefits
on the first day of
the following month.
(e.g., received by
March 25, your benefits
will be effective
April 1; after March
25, your benefits
will be effective
May 1).
If you have additional
questions, please contact
us at 800.936.0324.
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Will
I receive an ID card?
Yes. However, you do not
need an ID card to access
your benefits. Once you
are enrolled, your dentist
will receive a list in his
or her office showing that
you are enrolled. They can
also contact SafeGuard to
confirm your eligibility.
We will send you a permanent
ID card within 10 working
days of processing your
application.
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Is
there a waiting period before
I can see a dentist?
There is no waiting period
-- once you enroll, you
will receive a communication
from SafeGuard that gives
you the “effective date”
of your benefits. As soon
as you receive notice of
your effective date, you
may call a SafeGuard dentist
to make an appointment any
time after the effective
date.
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Does
everyone in my family have
to receive care from the
same dentist?
You and each of your enrolled
dependents may choose different
SafeGuard contracted general
dentists. When you enroll,
make sure you select two
general dentists from the
list for each enrolling
family member. That way,
if your first selected dentist
is unable to accept new
patients, SafeGuard will
process your second selection
to ensure there is no extra
wait to make an appointment.
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What
if I need to see a dental
specialist?
Both plans cover specialty
dental care. You may
contact a SafeGuard network
specialty care provider
directly – there is no need
for a referral from SafeGuard.
When you use a SafeGuard
network specialty care provider,
your out-of-pocket costs
will be 75% of the dentist’s
usual fee.
For example, if
the oral surgeon usually
charges $100 to pull a tooth,
your cost as a SafeGuard
member would be only $75.
SafeGuard specialists include
endodontists, periodontists,
oral surgeons, orthodontists
and pedodontists.
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What
if I have a dental emergency
and my selected general
dentist is unavailable?
If you experience a true
dental emergency and your
SafeGuard general dentist
is unavailable, contact
SafeGuard to be put in touch
with another dentist right
away. If you are away from
home or the emergency occurs
on the weekend, call the
SafeGuard Customer Service
number 800.880.1800 or read
the instructions on the
SafeGuard website to receive
information on how to access
care.
Refer to the Evidence of
Coverage to receive full
information on the definition
of a dental emergency and
how to access care. Each
state has different rules
regarding emergency coverage
and reimbursement for care,
so make sure you have the
correct EOC for your state.
A copy of the EOC is available
on "The Plans"
page.
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What
if I have questions about
the treatment plan my dentist
recommends?
You may always contact
SafeGuard to request a second
opinion. If you have any
questions, SafeGuard Customer
Service Representatives
are available weekdays,
during business hours (listed
below) at 800.880.1800.
We also provide helpful
information about the care
of your teeth, some dental
conditions and treatments
like crowns and gum disease,
along with special subjects
directed at children on
our website in the Member
section.
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What
if I have more questions?
SafeGuard representatives
are available to answer
your questions at 800.936.0324
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Eastern Time: 8-8
Mon - Fri
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Central Time: 7-7
Mon - Fri
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Pacific Time: 5-5
Mon - Fri
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