Introduction

The Department of Administration intends to award Delta Dental of Alaska the Dental Third-Party Administrator, Benefit Manager services contract for the State of Alaska employee and retiree dental plans. A 10-day protest period will follow before the contract is awarded.

• These services are currently provided by Delta Dental of Alaska (MODA).
• The new Delta Dental of Alaska contract will take effect January 1st, 2020.
• The contract was competitively bid via a Request for Proposals issued in October 2018.
• The contract is for an initial 5-year term with an additional 5-year optional renewal period.

Background

The State of Alaska provides health insurance, including dental insurance, through the AlaskaCare plans to certain state employees, retirees, and their dependents, including persons vested in the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS), Teachers Retirement System (TRS), and Judicial Retirement System (JRS).

The AlaskaCare dental plans provide insurance for an estimated 71,000 covered lives and have a combined annual spend of around $37 million. The plans are self-insured, meaning the state is responsible for paying the claims incurred, and are managed in the Division of Retirement and Benefits. The Division hires contractors to administer the benefits including adjudicating claims, developing a network of providers, establishing the systems necessary to process claims, providing a call center for members, and other activities necessary to carry out the functions of a health plan.

Resources

Copies of the Request for Proposals and the official notice of intent to award are available online .

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a Third-Party Administrator?
  A Third-Party Administrator (TPA) is a company the Division hires to process claims for the AlaskaCare health plans, including dental plans. Today, dental claims are processed by Delta Dental of Alaska (MODA) and they will continue to process them through the end of the current contract term (December 31, 2019) and continue with the start of the new contract on January 1, 2020.
• Is the Dental Benefit Manager changing?
  Periodically the Division competitively bids TPA contracts through a Request for Proposal (RFP). This gives the Division an opportunity to seek better service at lower cost for members and the plan. In this case, Delta Dental of Alaska (MODA) is the current dental benefit manager and will continue to be the dental benefit manager when the new contract takes effect.
• I've seen the Dental Benefit Manager refered to as Delta Dental of Alaska (MODA) and Delta Dental of Alaska, are they the same?
  Yes, Delta Dental of Alaska (MODA) is rebranding and is in the process of changing their name to Delta Dental of Alaska.
• Are my benefits changing due to the new contract?
  No. Your benefits are outlined in the AlaskaCare retiree or employee insurance information booklets. The dental Third-Party Administrator processes your claims in accordance with the appropriate booklet.
• When will the new TPA contract take effect?
  The Delta Dental of Alaska contract will take effect January 1, 2020.
• How will members be impacted?
  Delta Dental of Alaska (MODA) is the current claims administrator, so the impact will be minimal. You will continue to receive the same great service as you do today.
• Does this impact both retirees and active employees?
  Yes. Delta Dental of Alaska will process dental insurance claims for retirees and their dependents covered under the AlaskaCare DVA plan, and for employees and their dependents covered under the economy and standard AlaskaCare dental plans.
• Will I receive a new Dental Insurance Card?
  Members may receive new ID cards prior to the January 1, 2020 implementation date. If new cards will be issued, more information will be provided in advance to members.
• What is the retiree DVA Plan?
  Upon retirement, AlaskaCare retiree beneficiaries may opt to participate in a voluntary Dental, Vision, and Audio (DVA) plan to provide coverage for themselves and their eligible dependents. Unlike the medical and pharmacy plans, the DVA plan benefits are funded entirely by member-paid premiums.
• Does this include dental insurance for employees as well?
  Yes. This contract will also process dental insurance claims for employees covered under the economy and standard AlaskaCare dental plans.
• Who can I contact if I have more questions?
  You can contact:
  • Delta Dental of Alaska: (855) 718-1768
  • AlaskaCare – Plan Administrator:
    • Toll Free (800) 821-2251
    • In Juneau (907) 465-4460
    • TDD (907) 465-2805
    • Fax (907) 465-3086
    • Email