Benefit Chats

What is Benefit Chats?

Discussions about flexible benefits.

Announcer:

Welcome to Benefit Chats on the Flexible Benefits for You Network. You're about to hear casual conversations with experts about benefits that protect your health, life, and finances. These aren't technical deep dives, just practical insights you can use. Let's listen in.

Jen:

Okay. Let's be honest for a second. Going to the dentist, it's maybe not top of everyone's fun list. Right?

Mike:

Usually. No. There's definitely some hesitation for a lot of people.

Jen:

Yeah. And studies actually show it's it's significant. Like, anywhere from ten percent, maybe even up to thirty five percent of adults, they just put off going.

Mike:

And often, it's just down to fear. Pure fear.

Jen:

Right. Or, you know, worries about the cost or just finding the time the sheer hassle of it all.

Mike:

Exactly. These are real barriers, and it means a lot of people aren't getting the care they need.

Jen:

What if technology could sort of shake things up? That's what we're digging into today. Our mission on this deep dive is really to see how new tools, new approaches are making dental care, well, easier and maybe less scary.

Mike:

Absolutely. And we found some really interesting stuff. We're focusing on two main things today.

Jen:

Okay.

Mike:

These new at home screening tools, which are fascinating. And also, virtual care office.

Jen:

Virtual care. Okay.

Mike:

Yeah. These are genuinely different ways to, you know, proactively look after your teeth and gums or deal with urgent problems

Jen:

Right.

Mike:

Basically from your sofa.

Jen:

So thinking about those barriers, fear, cost, time, why do people really skip the dentist? And, how well did these new tech solutions actually tackle those issues?

Mike:

Well, the sources we looked at, they consistently point to those three big ones. You've got the fear. Sometimes it's really deep seated. Yeah. Then there's the cost factor or at least the perceived cost, which stops people even making the call.

Jen:

Right. Just assuming it's too expensive.

Mike:

Exactly. And then, like you said, the inconvenience, finding time, travel, it all adds up. But the really worrying thing is delaying that care. It's not just about putting up with a bit of discomfort.

Jen:

No.

Mike:

What starts small, maybe a little cavity, maybe a $150 to sort out.

Jen:

Okay.

Mike:

If you ignore it, that can blow up pretty quickly. Yeah. You can end up needing a root canal. Oof. Yeah.

Mike:

And suddenly you're looking at what, a thousand dollars, maybe more.

Jen:

Wow. That's a huge difference.

Mike:

It really is. Yeah. So it's not just about pain right now. It's got big long term money implications and health ones too, actually.

Jen:

Which definitely makes you think more about prevention, doesn't

Mike:

it? Absolutely.

Jen:

And on that note, prevention. Our sources talk a lot about some really cool innovations for catching things early. SmartScan, for instance. Tell us about that. How does that work?

Mike:

SmartScan is a really good example of this shift. It's basically an at home screening tool. It uses your smartphone actually.

Jen:

Your phone? How?

Mike:

Well, you use an app to take a series of guided photos. It tells you exactly what pictures to take of your teeth and your gums.

Jen:

Okay. Guided photos.

Mike:

Right. Then you upload those pictures to a platform like dental.com as one example.

Jen:

And then AI gets involved. You mentioned artificial intelligence. How sophisticated is that? Is it really spotting things?

Mike:

It is. Yeah. It's pretty advanced stuff like computer vision tech.

Jen:

Mhmm.

Mike:

Think about how AI is used in, say reading medical scans like x rays.

Jen:

Ah, okay. Pattern recognition.

Mike:

Exactly. It's trained on tons of dental images so it can spot tiny signs of potential decay or maybe gum inflammation, things that might be easy to miss at first glance. But it's not just the AI. After the AI does its thing, a real dentist in this case, one from the Cigna Healthcare Dental Network reviews your photos and the AI's findings.

Jen:

Okay. So there's still a human check. That's important.

Mike:

Very important. And then based on all that, you get a report back. It gives you an overall rating.

Jen:

Like good, bad?

Mike:

Sort of. It's green if everything looks healthy.

Jen:

Right.

Mike:

Or yellow or red if there's something they want you to look into

Jen:

Green, yellow, red. Simple enough. That sounds really useful for a first check. But I guess we need to be clear, right? This isn't the same as going to the dentist office.

Mike:

No. Absolutely not. And that's a really crucial point. Smart Scan is great for screening for that early look but it doesn't replace a full in person dental exam. You know the kind where the dentist actually probes your teeth, checks everything by touch.

Jen:

And the x rays I suppose you can't get those from phone pictures.

Mike:

Exactly. X rays are critical, They show what's happening under the surface, bone loss, impacted teeth, cavities between the teeth, stuff photos just can't capture. Right. So those in office visits. Yeah.

Mike:

Still absolutely essential for a complete picture of your oral health.

Jen:

Okay. So smart scan is like a like an early warning system. Powerful, but part of a bigger picture.

Mike:

Precisely.

Jen:

And the benefits for the user I mean, you said

Mike:

it's Incredibly quick. Like five minutes maybe, start to finish.

Jen:

Five minutes. Wow.

Mike:

Yeah. And for folks with certain plans like Cigna Healthcare Dental customers

Jen:

Yeah.

Mike:

In this pilot, it's free. No extra cost.

Jen:

Free is good.

Mike:

Free is always good. And obviously, it's totally painless. No drills involved there.

Jen:

Definitely a plus.

Mike:

So you either get that peace of mind, you know, that green light, or if it's yellow or red, you get clear advice on what to do next.

Jen:

Actionable steps. Right.

Mike:

And you might even get some personalized tips, just general advice on improving your brushing or flossing.

Jen:

Okay so let's say you do get a yellow or red flag from Smart Scan. What happens then? How does this tech help bridge that gap to actually getting care especially if you're someone who's you know, anxious about the dentist?

Mike:

Yeah, that's a great question. And that's where the next piece fits in teledentistry.

Jen:

Oh, okay.

Mike:

If you get that yellow or red rating, the system gives you the option to book a virtual appointment, a teledentistry visit through in this case, Cigna Healthcare Dental's virtual care service.

Jen:

So you talk to a dentist online first.

Mike:

Exactly. Or you can just get referred straight to a dentist in their network for an in person visit if you prefer. But that virtual option, it's a really good first step. It's low pressure, you're at home.

Jen:

Less intimidating than just walking into a clinic cold, especially if you're nervous.

Mike:

Definitely. It lets you talk to a professional without that immediate physical exam pressure.

Jen:

That leads nicely into the other big area you mentioned virtual care for urgent stuff. I mean, we've all had that horrible moment, right? Middle of the night, tooth starts throbbing.

Mike:

Oh, yeah. Awful feeling.

Jen:

And you just think, what do I do? Where can I even go? Before this kind of virtual option, what were the choices? Not many, I guess.

Mike:

Very few and usually not great ones. You either suffered until the dentist opened in the morning, or if it was really bad, maybe you'd end up in the ER, which let's face it, isn't really set up for dental problems and can cost a fortune.

Jen:

Yeah. ERs aren't dentists.

Mike:

Exactly. Right. So that's why this Cigna dental virtual care idea is potentially such a big deal for those urgent situations.

Jen:

Since it's always available?

Mike:

Pretty much. Twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred and sixty five days a year. And you don't have to go anywhere. You access it from home.

Jen:

Okay. So how does that actually work? If I need it right now, what are the steps?

Mike:

It's designed to be pretty simple. You'd log into your, your MyCigna account online that takes you to their virtual care portal.

Jen:

Okay.

Mike:

Then you set up an account with the service they partner with, which is called the teledentists. Or if you already have one, you link it through MyCigna and that usually handles the cost side.

Jen:

Waives the cost, you mean?

Mike:

Yeah for the consult itself typically. Then you need to download their video chat app.

Jen:

Makes sense, need video.

Mike:

Right. Then you choose, talk to a dentist now or schedule it for a bit later. If you choose now you go into a virtual waiting room.

Jen:

Like a real waiting room, but online.

Mike:

Kind of. Yeah. And they say a dentist usually connects with you in about ten minutes or less.

Jen:

Ten minutes. That's pretty quick for urgent care. And you mentioned video chat. Why is that so important? Why not just a phone call?

Mike:

Because the dentist really needs to see what's going on as much as possible.

Jen:

Okay.

Mike:

Even though they can't poke around or do procedures remotely, they can look at swelling, see a chipped tooth, check the color of your gums. Visual clues are vital.

Jen:

So you can literally show them, look this tooth broke right here.

Mike:

Exactly. It helps them assess things like toothaches, infections, bleeding gums, that kind of urgent stuff.

Jen:

And can they actually do anything like prescribe medicine?

Mike:

Yes, they can. If it's appropriate, they can prescribe certain medications, things like antibiotics if there's an infection or non narcotic pain relief.

Jen:

Okay, non narcotic important distinction.

Mike:

Very. They can't prescribe opioids or narcotics, but they can send those other prescriptions straight to your local pharmacy.

Jen:

And the pharmacy cost is separate, I assume.

Mike:

Yes, your regular pharmacy costs apply. And again, they can't do fillings or extractions virtually, obviously. Right. But they can definitely assess the situation and tell you what your next steps should be, like if you do need to see a dentist in person urgently.

Jen:

Okay. What about the cost of the virtual consult itself and, you know, privacy, people worry about health info online?

Mike:

Good questions. The consults themselves for eligible members are usually processed like an in network visit. So often no copay or coinsurance.

Jen:

So no immediate out of pocket for the chat?

Mike:

Typically not, but it does usually count towards your plan's annual maximum. You know, total limit your insurance pays per year.

Jen:

And privacy?

Mike:

The teledentist platform they use is IPK compliant. That's the big health privacy law in The US. So your personal health information is protected.

Jen:

Okay. And can, like my kids use this too.

Mike:

Yep. Enrolled dependents can use it. They can evaluate people of all ages, but if the patient is 18, a parent or guardian needs to be there for the consult.

Jen:

Makes sense. Now stepping back a bit, mentioned earlier that oral health affects overall health. Can we talk more about that connection? It feels important.

Mike:

Oh, it's hugely important and maybe not something people always think about but the link between what's happening in your mouth and the rest of your body, it's really strong.

Jen:

How so?

Mike:

Well, problems like gum disease for example. Inflammation doesn't necessarily stay in your mouth. You can actually make other conditions worse. Things like heart disease or There are established links.

Jen:

Wow. So ignoring a gum issue could actually impact your heart?

Mike:

There's evidence suggesting exactly that. It's quite profound when you think about it. The mouth isn't isolated from the body.

Jen:

That really changes how you think about dental care. It's not just teeth, it's systemic health.

Mike:

Absolutely.

Jen:

And are there programs that recognize this that try to connect dental and medical care? I think our sources mentioned something about Georgia.

Mike:

Yes exactly programs often called something like oral health integration. Georgia's plans were used as an example.

Jen:

What do they do?

Mike:

They essentially provide extra dental care at no additional cost for people with specific health conditions.

Jen:

Like what?

Mike:

Like diabetes, heart problems or even during pregnancy because we know oral health is particularly critical then.

Jen:

Pregnancy too what's the link there?

Mike:

Untreated gum disease during pregnancy has actually been linked to things like preterm birth or low birth weight babies. It's serious.

Jen:

Goodness, I had no idea.

Mike:

So these integration programs might offer things like extra cleanings, maybe special gum treatments or fluoride applications specifically targeting those connections.

Jen:

That's practical. It's showing how that integration actually works on the ground.

Mike:

It's a really concrete example, yeah. Connecting the dots between mouth and body.

Jen:

So we have these new tools like Smart Scan, Virtual Care, Integrated Benefits. It seems like there are more options now. How do people figure out which plan is right for them? Our sources mention different Cigna plans in Georgia as examples.

Mike:

Right, there's usually a range. It often comes down to balancing cost versus flexibility, doesn't it?

Jen:

How do you mean?

Mike:

Well using those Georgia examples you had plans like a dental care DHMO.

Jen:

DHMO that's like an HMO for dental.

Mike:

Pretty much yeah, dental health maintenance organization. With those you typically choose a primary care dentist within a specific network that usually keeps the monthly premium lower.

Jen:

Okay, so lower cost, but maybe less choice of dentist?

Mike:

Generally, yes. That works well if you find a dentist you like in the network and prefer predictable costs. Then you had options like Dental Select or Select Plus.

Jen:

And those are different how?

Mike:

Those are often PPO's preferred provider organizations. They usually give you more freedom to see dentists outside the main network though it might cost you more out of pocket.

Jen:

Coinsurance.

Mike:

Exactly. Until you hit your plan's annual maximum payout. So, more flexibility, potentially higher variable costs.

Jen:

And the monthly price difference can be quite big, right? Like $20 up to over $100

Mike:

Yeah, the range they showed was about $22 up to $118 a month. So it caters to different budgets and needs.

Jen:

But one thing that seems common and really good is that basic checkups and cleanings are often free.

Mike:

That's a huge benefit on many plans. Yes. Encourages that crucial preventative care we talked about. No cost for routine visits.

Jen:

Definitely removes one barrier.

Mike:

And there are other conveniences too, like large networks, making it easier to find someone nearby

Jen:

or

Mike:

even not needing your physical insurance card sometimes. Sometimes just using your social security number is enough for the dentist's office to verify coverage. Little things that make it easier.

Jen:

So bringing this all together, what's the main takeaway for you listening right now? Why does all this tech and plan stuff matter?

Mike:

Well, I think it comes back to that idea that looking after your mouth isn't just, you know, vanity. It's not just about a nice smile, although that's great too. It's fundamental health. And it's also about avoiding potentially really big costs down the line if small problems get ignored and become big ones.

Jen:

Right. That $150 cavity turning into a $1,000 plus root canal.

Mike:

Exactly that.

Jen:

So the core message here is things are changing. With tech like Smart Scan, with virtual care being available 20 fourseven, with benefits getting smarter, there are just more ways now.

Mike:

More ways to tackle oral health. Ways that are maybe more accessible, more affordable than they used to be.

Jen:

Yeah. So that fear, or the worry about cost, maybe they don't have to stop you anymore.

Mike:

Hopefully not. These innovations are really trying to lower those traditional barriers.

Jen:

Okay. So to wrap up, we're seeing this real convergence, aren't we? At home screening, virtual chats when you need them, benefits that understand the mouth body connection, it's all coming together.

Mike:

It really is transforming things. So maybe the final thought for you to consider is this: how does all this empower you? How can you use these tools to be more proactive, more integrated in managing your overall health? Really starting with your dental health. What possibilities does that open up for you for staying informed and really taking charge?

Announcer:

That's a wrap on today's benefit chat. For complete details on eligibility, enrollment, and plans, visit Team GA website, then MyBenefits, and check out the Flexible Benefits Program resources. Thanks for tuning into the FB4U Network. The clips and materials presented here are related to the State of Georgia Department of Administrative Services Flexible Benefits Program and are for informational purposes only. All benefit decisions and coverage details are governed by official plan documents.

Announcer:

This content is not intended to promise any specific benefits or serve as a substitute for reviewing your actual plan materials. If there are any conflicts between this information and your official plan documents, the plan documents prevail.