This content is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Dental. 

Open Season is almost here — and that means it’s a good time to start thinking about your dental coverage for the coming year. Even if you have a bright smile, your overall health can benefit from dental coverage.

Did you know that in addition to chest pain, having a sore jaw can be a sign of a heart attack? Or that expectant mothers with poor oral hygiene are seven times more likely to give birth to premature and low birth weight babies? Those with serious tooth or gum conditions even spend twice as much on overall healthcare costs.* That’s why routine visits to the dentist along with regular brushing, flossing and mouthwash use at home are so important to maintaining your health and well-being.

Having dental coverage can help you save on the costs of care. For example, if you got two dental exams, three cleanings and one set of X-rays in a year, you’d pay about $670 without dental coverage, on average. With BCBS FEP Dental, you’d pay nothing when visiting an in-network provider.**

Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Dental is a Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) dental plan offered to retired uniformed service members, federal employees, retired federal employees and their families. With two plans available, Standard Option and High Option, there’s a plan for everyone’s dental needs and budgets. No matter which plan you enroll in, you get:

• Free in-network preventive care and up to three covered dental cleanings a year
• No deductible for in-network services
• To use all your benefits from day one of your coverage being active
• Worldwide coverage
• Access to health and wellness discounts with Blue365^®

Plus, starting in 2022, Class A, B and C in-network services are covered at 100% for children age 13 and under for Standard Option members. That way, you can have peace of mind about your whole family’s dental health, too.

Having a dentist nearby is a big factor for getting the care you need. That’s why BCBS FEP Dental has a large network with over 488,000 provider access points across all 50 states — enough for most members to have an in-network dentist within 15 miles of where they live.

Everyone’s dental needs are different, though. With the AskBlue℠ BCBS FEP Dental Plan Finder, you can answer some simple questions and you’ll automatically get recommended a plan. Whether you’re newly eligible or looking to change your coverage, click here to learn more about how BCBS FEP Dental gives you plenty of reasons to smile. And don’t wait to enroll, Open Season is from November 8 to midnight ET on December 13, 2021.

*Source: BCBS Health Index 2016, only includes dental conditions identified through medical claims.

**Per person. Based on 2020 BCBS FEP Dental costs.