Dental

The UFT Welfare Fund provides dental benefits through two programs: the Scheduled Benefit Plan, which provides services through the Welfare Fund panel of dentists or a dentist of your choice; and Dentcare, a no-cost dental HMO.

Guide to Dental Benefits

Dental Plans

Scheduled benefit plan

Members may choose to access either:

• A panel dentist through SIDS — Self- Insured Dental Services (NY and Florida) or the Florida PPO Panel (Florida Area), with little or no out-of-pocket cost for covered services;
• Or may choose any dentist and submit for reimbursement according to the UFT Welfare Fund Schedule of Covered Dental Expenses.

Dentcare (HMO)

For members who want no out-of-pocket expenses for covered dental services, Dentcare, a dental HMO is available. Members may select a participating primary care dentist for each family member. The primary care dentist makes specialist referrals, if needed.

Who is covered?

All eligible members, eligible dependents, and eligible retirees as defined in the General Information section, are covered for dental benefits.

What dental benefit programs are available?

The UFT Welfare Fund offers benefits through a choice of two (2) types of dental programs as follows:

1. A "fee-for-service" plan under which members may receive their dental services from a panelist (with little or no out-of-pocket costs for covered services). This is known as the UFT Welfare Fund Scheduled Benefit Plan. In this plan, a member may see any non-participating dentist whereby a member will be reimbursed directly according to the UFT Welfare Fund’s schedule of covered dental expenses.
2. A Dental HMO plan under which comprehensive dental services are covered with no out-of-pocket expenses, known as Dentcare.

Dental benefits are provided only to the extent that the services, supplies, and the course of treatment are necessary and appropriate, and that they meet professionally recognized standards of quality. Necessity and appropriateness are determined after taking into account the total current oral condition of the patient.

For more information on dental benefits, please select one of the following:

• Coverage options and reimbursement
• Scheduled Benefit Plan
• Dental HMO Plan (Dentcare)
• Special Coordination of Benefits