Smile for a Brighter Future

You Have Options When it Comes to Dental Care

2027 Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment begins in 16 days.

The information on this page applies to your current 2026 benefits. To review Plan Year 2027 benefits and prepare to make your elections, visit the Open Enrollment webpages.

Explore 2027 Open Enrollment

Dental Plan Overview

Every employee has different dental needs, whether basic cleanings and checkups, or covered dependents ready for braces. To meet your unique needs, the University offers two UVA Dental Plan options: Basic and Enhanced Dental. Both of these dental plan options are administered by United Concordia. 

Your medical, dental, and/or vision benefits can begin on the first date of employment (or choose to wait until the first of the month if you have coverage elsewhere).

  • Date of employment: If you need coverage immediately, you have the option to start your medical, dental, and/or vision benefits as of your date of employment. This may be a good option if you are currently not covered elsewhere, or you desire coverage as soon as possible. 
  • First of the month following your date of employment: You can choose to start your medical, dental, and/or vision benefits on the first of the month after you are hired. This may be a good option if you have coverage from a previous employer or are under a family member’s coverage that is still active through the end of the month. 
  • No medical, dental, and/or vision coverage: You can officially waive your medical, dental, and/or vision benefit options as well as enroll or waive in other benefits during your new hire change benefit event. 

Please review the Coordination of Benefits document regarding your coverage and how it works with your prior employer.

Changes to your dental plan benefit can be made during the Open Enrollment period each October, or after a qualified life event like a change in marital status, an addition to the family, or a leave of absence. Review the Qualified Life Events and Required Documentation resource document for a list of life events and required documentation needed to request a change. Qualified life event change requests, along with appropriate documentation, must be submitted within 60 days of the life event and must be consistent with the life event.

Visit the Life Changes pages for additional information and to learn how to enter these change requests in Workday.

What Are the Costs?

Cost is one factor to consider when choosing the dental coverage. Look at the premiums and deductible for each dental plan option and select the best one for your needs. Consider if you, or a covered dependent, might need more complex care such as crowns or orthodontia. For complex restorative services (after the deductible is met), Basic Dental covers 50% of eligible expenses and Enhanced Dental covers 60%. See the Dental Options Comparison Chart for more about covered services and costs. Routine and preventive care services are covered at 100% in-network.

Expenses Basic Dental Enhanced Dental
Premiums See below for rates by employee type  See below for rates by employee type
Deductible $50.00, applies to Type B and Type C Services (primary and major restorative services); dental services are listed on the Dental Options Comparison Chart $50.00, applies to Type B and Type C Services (primary and major restorative services); dental services are listed on the Dental Options Comparison Chart
Annual Maximum Benefit $1,000.00 per person $2,000.00 per person
Complex Restorative Services Plan pays 50% of eligible expenses for in-network Plan pays 60% of eligible expenses for in-network
Routine and Preventive Care Plan pays 100% for in-network  Plan pays 100% for in-network

Who is eligible?

The following information is general eligibility for both UVA Dental Plan options.

  • Employees

    To be eligible for a UVA Dental Plan, you must be a full- or part-time UVA employee, regularly scheduled to work at least 20 hours/week. To be eligible for dental coverage through UVA, you must be one of the following employee types:

    • Faculty
    • Classified Staff
    • Medical Center Team Members
    • Postdoctoral Research Associates
    • Senior Professional Research Staff
    • University Staff
    • Housestaff
    • Postdoctoral Fellows
    • Visiting Faculty

  • Spouses

    To be added to your UVA Dental Plan, spouses must be legally recognized as a spouse in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

  • Children

    To be added to your UVA Dental Plan, children must be your biological, step, adopted, or foster child, or any child declared a dependent on your federal tax return for whom you are the legal guardian with permanent custody. You must be the legal guardian with permanent custody. Children are eligible to the end of the birth month in which they turn 26.

  • Adult Children with Disabilities

    If children are incapable of self-support, due to mental or physical disability, they can remain on your dental plan beyond age 26 as long as the following requirements are met:

    • Required documentation is approved in advance by the benefits claims administrator before the dependent's 26th birthday.
    • They are unmarried.
    • They live with you 100% of the time.
    • They are declared a dependent on your federal tax return.

Premiums

Your premiums are the amount you spend on the UVA Dental Plan each paycheck. Premiums are not included as contributions toward your deductible. You pay the premiums, regardless of whether you use the benefits.

Note: Premium amounts below are monthly. Family coverage includes employee, spouse, and children.

  • Faculty, Professional Research Staff, and University Staff

    You may choose from the Basic or Enhanced plans. The tables below show what you pay each month in premiums. 

    2026 Monthly Premiums

    Basic Dental Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $2.75 $21.75 $24.50
    Employee + Child(ren) $5.25 $39.50 $44.75
    Employee + Spouse $7.50 $39.50 $47.00
    Family $12.50 $58.25 $70.75
    Enhanced Dental Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $13.75 $21.75 $35.50
    Employee + Child(ren) $31.75 $39.50 $71.25
    Employee + Spouse $36.00 $39.50 $75.50
    Family $61.75 $58.25 $120.00

  • Medical Center Team Members

    You may choose from the Basic or Enhanced plans. The tables below show what you pay each month in premiums. 

    2026 Monthly Premiums

    Basic Dental Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $2.75 $21.75 $24.50
    Employee + Child(ren) $5.25 $39.50 $44.75
    Employee + Spouse $7.50 $39.50 $47.00
    Family $12.50 $58.25 $70.75
    Enhanced Dental Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $13.75 $21.75 $35.50
    Employee + Child(ren) $31.75 $39.50 $71.25
    Employee + Spouse $36.00 $39.50 $75.50
    Family $61.75 $58.25 $120.00

  • Medical Center Housestaff

    You receive UVA Basic Dental Plan coverage at no cost. Dependent enrollment is not automatic, and must be done through Workday upon hire, with a qualified life event, or during the annual Open Enrollment period.

    2026 Full-Time Monthly Premiums

    Basic Dental Employee Rate Employer Rate
    Employee $0 $24.50
    Employee + Child(ren) $0 $44.75
    Employee + Spouse $0 $47.00
    Family $0 $70.75

  • Postdoctoral Fellows

    You may choose to enroll in the Basic Dental Plan.

    2026 Full-Time Monthly Premiums

    Basic Dental UVA Postdoctoral Rate (Non-UVA) Grant/Dept Rate *Total
    Single $0.00 $24.50 $24.50
    Postdoc + Child(ren) $20.75 $24.50 $44.75
    Postdoc + Spouse $22.50 $24.50 $47.00
    Family $46.25 $24.50 $70.75

    *In the case of external fellowships that are provided directly to postdoctoral fellows, fellowship allowances may be used to support the full cost of postdoctoral fellow health insurance.  In all cases, departments and postdoctoral fellows must account for the full costs provided above.

  • Classified Staff

    You may choose from the Basic or Enhanced plans. The tables below show what you pay each month in premiums.

    2026 Monthly Premiums

    Basic Dental Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $2.75 $21.75 $24.50
    Employee + Child(ren) $5.25 $39.50 $44.75
    Employee + Spouse $7.50 $39.50 $47.00
    Family $12.50 $58.25 $70.75
    Enhanced Dental Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $13.75 $21.75 $35.50
    Employee + Child(ren) $31.75 $39.50 $71.25
    Employee + Spouse $36.00 $39.50 $75.50
    Family $61.75 $58.25 $120.00

  • Research Associates

    You may choose from the Basic or Enhanced plans. The tables below show what you pay each month in premiums.

    2026 Monthly Premiums

    Basic Dental Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $2.75 $21.75 $24.50
    Employee + Child(ren) $5.25 $39.50 $44.75
    Employee + Spouse $7.50 $39.50 $47.00
    Family $12.50 $58.25 $70.75
    Enhanced Dental Employee Rate Employer Rate Total Rate
    Employee $13.75 $21.75 $35.50
    Employee + Child(ren) $31.75 $39.50 $71.25
    Employee + Spouse $36.00 $39.50 $75.50
    Family $61.75 $58.25 $120.00

COBRA Rates

As a COBRA participant, you can choose enrollment only in the same option in which you were enrolled on your last day of coverage as an active employee, Postdoc Fellow, or Housestaff. 

    2026 Monthly Premiums (Active Employees, Housestaff)       COBRA-Basic       COBRA-Enhanced 
    Employee       $24.99       $36.21 
    Employee + Children       $45.65      $72.68
    Employee + Spouse       $47.94     $77.01
    Family       $72.17       $122.40
    2026 Monthly Premiums (Postdoctoral Fellows)       COBRA-Basic  
    Employee       $24.99  
    Employee + Children       $45.65 
    Employee + Spouse       $47.94
    Family       $72.17  

Deductible

Your deductible is the amount you pay for covered dental care services before the UVA Dental Plan starts to pay. The deductible for both options is $50/year. The deductible is only applied to type B or Type C services.

Annual Maximum Benefit

The annual maximum benefit is the most the plan will cover in allowable expenses within one year.

How do I use the UVA Dental Plan?

UVA Dental Plan coverage varies between the Basic and Enhanced Dental options. With both options, routine and preventive care is covered at 100%. For specific information about coverage and costs for each option, please use the following resources:

  • Register at www.UnitedConcordia.com

    The first time you use the United Concordia Dental website, you will need to register.

    • Go to www.unitedconcordia.com/dental-insurance/member/get-started and click on “Create Your Account.”
    • In the “Tell us about yourself” section, select “Member.”
    • Follow the prompts to register. You will need your dental identification number (found on your United Concordia card) or social security number, so have that information handy.
    • Begin using the United Concordia Dental website.

  • Get a dental insurance card

    When you first sign up for the UVA Dental Plan or switch between options, you will receive a card by mail.

    To view or print card, use the following steps:

    • Go to www.unitedconcordia.com.
    • Enter your username and password and click “Sign In.”
    • Select “ID Card” above your usage summary.
    • Once viewing the ID Card, you may print a card or select “Mail My Card.”

  • Find a provider

    To search for a dentist:

    • Click find a dentist.
    • Select "Elite Prime" from the network drop-down list. 

  • Price a procedure

    To find out about specific coverage, follow these steps:

    • Go to www.unitedconcordia.com.
    • Enter your username and password and click “Sign In.”
    • In the top navigation bar, select “Find a Dentist.”
    • Scroll through the procedure list in the “Coverage Summary,” use the search box, or use the navigation bar to research coverage for different categories of procedures e.g. “Routine,” “Non-Routine & Surgical,” and “Braces & Orthodontic.”

  • Review a claim or explanation of benefits (EOB)

    To access claim and EOB information, follow these steps:

    • Go to www.unitedconcordia.com.
    • Enter your username and password and click “Sign In.”
    • In the top navigation bar, click on “Claims.”
    • Review your claim information summary and click on the “+” near the bottom of each entry to see more.
    • In the bottom of each claim detail, click on “Explanation of Benefits (EOB)" to download a PDF for that claim.

Frequently Asked Questions