AlaskaCare Retiree Dental-Vision-Audio Plan (DVA)

The State of Alaska is pleased to be able to offer this voluntary DVA plan for benefit recipients and their eligible dependents. Please check the current booklet for the most up-to-date and complete information about health benefits.

How to Elect DVA Coverage

DVA coverage may be elected for:

  • Retiree only
  • Retiree and spouse
  • Retiree and child/children
  • Retiree and family (spouse and child/children)

If you are covered by the medical plan automatically at no cost to you, you must elect DVA coverage:

  • Before the effective date of your retirement benefit, or
  • With your application for survivor benefits.

If you do not elect coverage at this time, you waive the right to elect coverage at a later date.

If you are required to pay premiums for your medical coverage, you may elect DVA coverage at the times shown above or during an annual open enrollment period. However, DVA may be elected during open enrollment only if the same or increased level of medical coverage is being elected for the first time during that open enrollment.

When DVA Coverage Starts

New Benefit Recipients

New benefit recipients who elect coverage at retirement will be covered under this plan on the date of their appointment to receive retirement, disability, or survivor/death benefits.

Open Enrollees

Benefit recipients who are eligible for and elect coverage during an open enrollment are covered on January 1 of the year following the open enrollment, assuming they pay the required premium.

Marine Engineers Beneficial Association Members

Eligible benefit recipients of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA) who elect coverage at retirement and pay the required premium will be covered on the date of their appointment to receive benefits from MEBA.

Dependents

If you elect coverage for dependents, your eligible dependents are covered on the dates specified below. Note that the level of coverage you elect must cover the dependent. In order to have coverage for your children, for example, you must elect coverage for retiree and children or for retiree and family.

Your dependents are eligible for benefits on the same day you are eligible if they meet all eligibility requirements. If you add new dependents, they will be covered under this plan immediately assuming the level of coverage you have covers the new dependent as specified above.

If you increase your coverage to include dependents following marriage or birth of a child, their coverage begins on the first of the month following receipt of your written request, assuming the level of coverage you elect covers the new dependent.

When DVA Coverage Ends

Coverage under the DVA plan ends at the earliest time that one of the following occurs:

Failure to Pay Premium

Coverage ends at the end of the month in which you fail to pay the required premium. If at any time your benefit check is insufficient to pay the monthly premium, you may pay the premium directly to the claims administrator. Contact the Division of Retirement and Benefits for more information. MEBA members pay premiums directly to the MEBA office.

Ineligible Retirees

Coverage ends at the end of the month in which you become ineligible to receive a benefit from the retirement system.

Discontinuance of Coverage

You may discontinue your participation in DVA coverage at any time by submitting a signed, written request to the Division of Retirement and Benefits. Your premium deductions will be stopped as soon as possible. Your coverage will end on the last day of the month in which the last premium is deducted/paid.

If you discontinue participation, you waive all rights to future coverage and you are not eligible to re-enroll.

Dependents

If you have elected to cover your dependents, coverage will end for those dependents on the same day as your coverage ends, unless:

  • You divorce. Coverage for your spouse ends on the date the divorce is final,
  • Your child no longer meets all eligibility requirements. Coverage ends at the end of the month in which the child first fails to meet these requirements,
  • You discontinue coverage for your dependents, or
  • Coverage is discontinued for all dependents.

You should notify the Division of Retirement and Benefits any time your dependents change so your coverage level can be adjusted if necessary. For example, if you divorce or your only child ceases to meet the eligibility requirements, you should request the division to discontinue coverage for them.

Changes in coverage are effective only after your written request is received by the division.

Please note: the health plan cannot make changes in coverage levels for you.

There may be options available for continuing DVA coverage if some of the above situations occurs. These are described in the “Continued Health Coverage” section on pages 97-101 in the booklet.

How to Change DVA Coverage

You may decrease your level of coverage at any time. For example, you may change from retiree and family coverage to retiree and spouse coverage any time. To decrease your coverage, submit a written request to the Division of Retirement and Benefits stating the level of coverage you would like. Once you decrease your coverage you cannot reinstate it except as described below.

You may increase coverage only:

  • Within 120 days after marriage or the birth or adoption of your first child, or
  • During an open enrollment period, if you are eligible

Your written request to increase coverage must be postmarked or received within 120 days after the date one of the above events occurs. You should state the level of coverage you would like, the reason for the change, and the date the event occurred.

Changes in coverage are effective on the first of the month following the receipt of your written request.

Changes in coverage are effective only after receipt of your written request and are not retroactive.

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Dental Plan Highlights

  • Pays 100% of the recognized charge for most preventive services (X-rays, exams, cleaning, etc.) with no deductible.
  • Pays 80% of the recognized charge for most restorative services (fillings, extractions, etc.) after the annual deductible is met.
  • Pays 50% of the recognized charge for most prosthetic services (crowns, dentures, etc.) after the annual deductible is met.
  • Requires an annual deductible of $50 per person for restorative or prosthetic services.
  • Pays up to $2,000 of covered expenses per person per year.

Vision Plan Highlights

  • Requires no deductible
  • Pays 80% of covered services
  • Covers one complete eye examination, including a required refraction, per year
  • Covers two lenses during each calendar year
  • Covers one set of frames during every two consecutive calendar years

Audio Plan Highlights

  • Pays 80% of the usual, customary, and reasonable charges
  • Requires no deductibles
  • Allows a maximum benefit of $2,000 in a three-year period

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