Page 17 - October 2017 Work Force

Dental sealants key to good oral care
The CSEA Employee Benefit Fund offers several dental benefit programs for our members through contract negotiatoins. While you can have peace of mind in knowing you have dental care for you and your family, we believe that prevention
is key.
One way to prevent tooth decay is with dental
sealants. EBF dental
plans offer sealants
as a covered service
for dependents
under age 19. Here
is a little more from
the Journal of the American Dental Association about sealants.
What are sealants?
Have you ever noticed how uneven the chewing surfaces are on your back teeth, also known as molars? These teeth have pits and grooves that help grind food, but
they also can make it easier for cavities to develop.
While brushing and flossing your teeth are very important steps in reducing your risk of developing tooth decay, it’s difficult to clean inside the pits and grooves on your molars with a toothbrush.
Luckily, sealants can protect your teeth from decay by filling in those pits and grooves,
keeping food and plaque out. Sealants may even stop very early stages of tooth decay from forming a cavity.
Usually, sealants are made of a special type of plastic, although sometimes other dental materials may be used. The sealant is applied in a thin coat to the chewing surfaces of your molars, covering the deep pits and grooves that put you at risk of developing tooth decay.
Before sealant
Who should get sealants?
The earlier in life they are applied, the greater protection sealants offer, but it’s never too late to protect any chewing surface that is free from tooth decay with sealants. Sealants can save time and money down the road because you are less likely to need to treat tooth decay.
How long do they last?
Sealants are very durable and, in most cases, hold up for several years. Everyone is different, however, and sometimes sealants need to be reapplied. Your dentist
After sealant
will check them at every visit.
Do sealants take the place of brushing and dental visits? Sealants are a valuable part of
dental care, but nothing takes the place of good oral care. Your daily routine should include brushing your teeth twice per day, along with flossing once per day. Experts also recommend you see your dentist regularly.
Adapted from JADA, Vol 147(8), Anita M. Mark, Dental Sealants, page 692, 2016, with permission from Elsevier.
Another program that helps
to save enrollees money is the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP), which allows eligible full
and part-time state employees
to exchange previously accrued vacation leave and/or personal leave, in return for a biweekly credit, which reduces their share of the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) premium.
Eligible CSEA active state members can receive up to a $500 credit ($19.23 biweekly) or $1,000 credit ($38.46 biweekly), determined by salary grade and number of days forfeited.
Review the Planning for Option Transfer documentation and contact your health benefits administrator, usually located in your personnel office, or, if applicable, the Business Service Center if you have questions or to confirm your eligibility for this benefit.
Ways to help save on 2018 health expenses
Enrollees should start thinking about their expenses for
next year.
Do you participate in the Flex Spending Account or Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP)?
If you don’t, now is the time to get
more information about these cost-saving benefits. Enrollment begins Oct. 2, 2017.
The Flex Spending Account (FSA) is a negotiated employee benefit
for state employees. There are two parts to the FSA: the Health Care
Spending Account (HCSAccount), which applies to medical, hospital, laboratory, prescription, dental, vision, hearing expenses, etc. not reimbursed by insurance or benefit plans and the Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAAccount), which applies to child care, elder care or disabled dependent care required for an employee or spouse to work. Both are types of flexible spending accounts that give you
a way to pay for your health care expenses or dependent care with pre-tax dollars. Enrollment in
the flexible spending account is voluntary — you decide how much to deduct from your paycheck based on your needs.
For more information about the Flexible Spending Account programs, including eligibility, enrolling online and calculating your out-of-pocket expenses, please visit flexspend. ny.gov or call 1-800-358-7202.
October 2017
The Work Force 17