The name of the Dental Plan is Guardian DentalGuard Preferred.  The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY (Guardian) has several products, so make sure that the dentist you choose is affiliated with Guardian DentalGuard Preferred.  Your dental ID card along with a schedule of benefits has been sent to you by surface mail.  The card has your plan number, but not your name.  Show the card to your dentist when you begin treatment.

Guardian DentalGuard Preferred provides you with access to over 6,000 dentists in the Tri-state area, 64,000 nationwide.

This new plan is a discount plan.  This means that even with participating dentists you will have to pay something out of pocket.  However, the amount you pay to a participating dentist is determined by the discount (negotiated between the dentist and Guardian) and by Fund payments according to the schedule.

Dentist charges will vary depending on the location and by the individual dentist's negotiated discount with Guardian.

Typically, the member can expect to pay the most in Manhattan, least in the Bronx and Staten Island.  The cost, however, should not vary greatly.

Because of the above, this means that you must now expect variations in cost with participating dentists rather than a fixed schedule, as in the past.  There is no single source for you to look at to see at a glance who is charging what.  This is a necessary concession in creating a plan that is sustainable and still provides some benefit to members.

For work over $300, you should have your dentist request a pre-estimate that will tell you exactly what the discount is and how much you, the member, will have to pay.

If you use a participating dentist, you do not need any forms.

If you use a non-participating dentist, the dentist's generic claim form can be used.  You can also download forms (with the Adobe® Acrobat reader) from this website.

Frequency limitations still apply, and work already done this calendar year counts towards the frequency limitation.

There are no longer any deductibles.

You can obtain more information by calling Guardian at 1-800-541-7846 or through this website.

Orthodontic work is not covered under the Guardian plan.

However, if you are currently in a course of treatment that began prior to April 1, 2003, Orthodontia will be covered for the duration of the course of treatment.  In this case, please send all claim forms to the Welfare Fund for processing.

Although the Fund Guardian plan does not pay for Orthodontia, if you use a Guardian DentalGuard Preferred orthodontist you can still receive treatment at the dentist's discounted rate.

If you received a finalized and approved pre-determination of benefits before April 1, 2003, you have six months to conclude the work under the SIDS plan.  At the end of the six months, the Guardian schedule will take effect for that work, even if it is not completed.