Empire BCBS launches new dental products in New York

Empire BlueCross BlueShield has added two new dental products for the New York Large Group market primarily for labor and trust groups: Empire Dental Enhanced Care, a managed care product, and Empire Dental XPO, a PPO product.

The dental insurance products are available for purchase immediately for April 1, 2017 effective dates.

Empire Dental Enhanced Care, a managed care plan, is available on a fully-insured employer-sponsored and voluntary basis and offers comprehensive coverage for fully-insured groups when using a participating dentist. Three plan options are available including a $0 office visit copay option, and no to moderate copay schedule options. Take-home teeth whitening and medically necessary child orthodontia are included in all options. Optional benefits such as child or adult/child cosmetic orthodontia and implant placement are available for an additional premium. The Enhanced Care plan provides benefits for members only within the Empire New York service area (emergency care is covered within the U.S. and internationally).

The Empire Dental XPO, a PPO plan, is available on a fully-insured employer-sponsored and voluntary basis or Administrative Services Only (ASO) self-funded basis. The plan offers significant discounts on covered services from participating dentists and flexibility with benefit customization on coinsurance, deductible, and optional dental insurance benefits including composite (white) fillings, implants, and/or cosmetic child or adult/child orthodontia. The XPO plan provides benefits for members within the Empire service area, as well as for out-of-area employees.

“Empire’s new dental plans offer tailored solutions for the labor and trust market,” said Larry Schreiber, President and CEO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield. “The new dental plans offer excellent benefits at an attractive premium and can be purchased individually or as a dual offering. The plans include $0 diagnostic and preventive copays for services including exams, x-rays, fluoride, sealants and cleanings, and offers comprehensive benefits for basic and major services with an affordable member cost share.”

Empire BlueCross BlueShield is the largest health insurer in New York supporting more than 4 million members and more than 38,000 business, union and small employers in New York. Empire BlueCross BlueShield (Empire) is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc., and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc., independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serving residents and businesses in the 28 eastern and southeastern counties of New York State.