Chad Kinesis, the regional managing director of Ameritas, will take you through some of the product upgrades. We also have handouts available at the top right of your screen. In the handouts, you'll find a comparison of the dental plans, information about the bonus available for agents starting with nine sales, and a flyer on credit for prior coverage. This feature is unique in the individual and family dental market and is very valuable.

A few housekeeping items: my name is Deb Wilkinson, Senior Vice President for URL Insurance Group with the Health Plan Options Department. This webinar will be recorded, and you can ask questions in the Q&A tab. Agent compensation on dental is 30% the first year with 2% renewal, which is quite competitive. With that, I’ll hand it over to Chad.

Thank you, Deb. I appreciate the opportunity to be here and everyone attending. I represent our individual dental and vision products, and that’s what we’ll focus on today, including updates to the product portfolio.

First, my contact information is on the screen. If you have questions about Ameritas, feel free to call or text me at 317-538-3055, or email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. There’s also a QR code to save my contact information for convenience.

The purpose of today is to discuss dental and vision—what’s new, what’s changed, and why you should consider selling these products. Dental and vision are great door openers to new clients, and there is high demand. They provide an opportunity to reach clients of any age and cross-sell other products.

Why sell dental and vision? Regular dental and vision care is critical. Medical advancements show that oral and eye health can reveal other health issues. Gum disease is associated with nearly 60 other health problems, including diabetes, heart conditions, and even some forms of Alzheimer’s. One in five Americans report that their vision provider detected an unrelated health issue. About 85% of system issues have some oral manifestation.

Dental issues are common—90% of people aged 20 to 64 experience tooth decay. Many assume clients have employer-provided benefits, but 64% of people working for an employer do not receive dental or vision coverage. Additionally, some clients, like 26-year-olds aging off their parents' plans, need coverage, creating new opportunities. Medicare does not cover most dental, dentures, or vision, making this a perfect time to offer standalone coverage.

Standalone dental and vision plans provide coverage even if clients change other plans. Ameritas does not coordinate benefits with other coverage, so any claim submitted to Ameritas is treated as primary. These plans offer network savings and are portable as long as premiums are paid.

Some things have not changed. Ameritas plans provide next-day coverage with no waiting periods for preventive, basic, or major services. Credit for prior coverage is available in most states. Rates are based on zip code, not age or gender. Additional benefits include teeth whitening, ortho features, hearing care, and coverage for implants. Coverage is available in all 50 states.

Credit for prior coverage allows clients replacing a fully insured dental plan to jump to the highest level of co-insurance if the previous plan was in place for at least 12 months and there is no more than a two-month gap. The max benefit remains the same, but the co-insurance level is improved.

Ameritas offers three plans: Prime Star Light, Boost, and Complete. These were previously called Value, Access, and Total. Prime Star Light provides basic coverage at a lower price point, with a $750 first-year max that increases to $1,500 in the second year. Preventive care does not count toward the max, deductibles are $50 for basic and major services, and preventive care is covered at 100% in-network. Basic services are 50% first year and 80% in year two, while major services start at 10% in-network and 20% in year two. Implants are not included in this plan.

Prime Star Boost is designed for families, offering more robust coverage including ortho and teeth whitening. The max benefit starts at $1,500 the first year and increases to $2,000 in year two, with preventive care excluded from the max. Basic services are covered at 65% first year and 80% second year in-network, and major services, including crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants, start at 20% first year and 50% in year two. Ortho coverage is available for those under 19, with a $1,000 lifetime max per person and coverage starting at 15% first year, 50% second year.

Prime Star Complete is the most comprehensive plan and is geared toward seniors, providing the highest level of benefits for those seeking maximum coverage.

The Emeritus dental and vision plans are available to anyone 18 and older, though the Complete Plan tends to appeal more to senior clients because it offers higher benefits and hearing aid coverage. The Complete Plan starts with a $2,500 maximum benefit in the first year, increasing to $3,000 in year two, and includes Preventive Plus, meaning preventive care is fully covered and does not count against the maximum. Deductibles are structured so preventive care is fully covered in-network, basic services have a $50 deductible with 80–90% coinsurance, and major services such as crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants are covered at 20% coinsurance in the first year and 50% in year two, with no waiting period. Hearing benefits include an annual exam reimbursement of $75 and hearing aid coverage reimbursed directly, up to $200 per year in the first year and $400 total, then $400 per year in subsequent years, without any network restrictions.

Pricing for the Complete Plan generally falls in the $47–$50+ per month range depending on the client’s zip code. State-specific rules apply in some cases. In certain blue/light blue states such as Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin, in-network and out-of-network coinsurance is the same. States like Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York have adjustments to first-year maximums to allow higher benefits in year two, and some indemnity states, including Alaska, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, Montana, Rhode Island, and two counties in Pennsylvania, follow different reimbursement rules for out-of-network care.

The Emeritus dental network has around 131,000 providers nationwide. Network dentists agree to discounted rates, typically 25–50% off standard fees, which can make a significant difference for expensive procedures like crowns. For example, a $1,351 crown would be reduced to $622 in-network, with insurance covering $409 on day one, representing a 63% savings, and potentially reducing client costs further in year two. Emeritus also offers standalone vision plans that can be sold alone or bundled with dental, with Prime Star Choice using VSP and Prime Star Select using iMed as networks.

Agents have a range of support tools, including a producer portal to access commissions, marketing materials, brochures, and network search tools, with customizable and compliance-approved resources available for social media, email, and QR code distribution. Spanish-speaking support is also available. The quoting and enrollment process is simple, requiring only the client’s zip code and basic information, with no social security number or age restrictions. Coverage can start as soon as the next day, with flexibility to delay up to 90 days, and prior coverage can be credited to accelerate year-two benefits. Payment options include EFT and credit card, with EFT recommended for better persistency.

Marketing can be done using personalized URLs, QR codes, business cards, or office handouts, and Emeritus was rated the best dental insurance for seniors by Forbes Advisor in 2023, providing credibility when sharing with clients. Agents can also qualify for application bonuses for dental and vision submissions, with $20 for dental apps on EFT, $10 on credit card payments, and $5 for vision apps, running from September through December with January 1 effective dates. Overall, the Emeritus plans offer flexible, easy-to-sell coverage with immediate benefits for preventive, basic, and major services, substantial savings through the large provider network, and strong support tools and marketing options for agents, making them a valuable product for both general adult and senior clients.