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Retiree Dental Benefits

CalPERS maintains the dental benefit enrollment records for all eligible CSU retirees and processes retirees' dental enrollments.

Effective January 1, 2020, retirees have the option to purchase enhanced coverage and pay the difference between the basic coverage and enhanced coverage. The CSU pays 100 percent of the monthly premium cost for basic dental coverage for all eligible retirees and their eligible dependents, which includes a spouse or registered domestic partner and/or children up to age 26.

Delta Dental offers a preferred provider organization (PPO) in addition to a dental health maintenance organization (DHMO) plan; DeltaCare USA. The Delta Dental PPO and DeltaCare USA plans both offer comprehensive dental coverage, quality care and excellent customer service.

You can contact the Delta Dental PPO plan dedicated phone line at (800) 626-3108 or the DeltaCare USA DHMO plan at (844) 519-8751.

CalPERS maintains and is responsible for:

  • The dental benefit enrollment records for all eligible CSU retirees and processing retirees’ dental enrollments.
  • The contact information for all retiree dental communications.

You can confirm your enrollment upon retirement by logging in to My|CalPERS. If you are enrolled, the plan name will be listed. Remember, there is no monthly deduction for the basic plan; CSU pays the monthly premium for coverage.

Transitioning from Active to Retired Dental Coverage

If you are enrolled in a CSU Delta Dental plan, your dental coverage generally continues automatically into retirement if your permanent separation date and retirement date are within 30 days of each other. If you are enrolled in the Delta Dental enhanced level coverage as an active employee, you will have the option to continue enhanced coverage for a monthly fee or be covered at the basic level at no cost to you.

If you are benefits eligible, but not enrolled in the dental benefits at the time of retirement, you have the option to enroll in coverage at retirement, within 60 days of retirement, or during any future Open Enrollment period. This also applies if you are enrolled in FlexCash at the time of retirement. However, in this case, coverage will be established on a prospective basis.

Voluntary Dental Enhance​d Plans:

You Asked; We Delivered!

You can now choose between the current Basic Plans (Delta Dental PPO Basic, DeltaCare USA Basic) (at no cost) and the Enhanced Plans (Delta Dental PPO Voluntary Enhanced II, Delta Care USA Voluntary Enhanced). For an additional monthly fee, you can enroll in the same Enhanced Plan you had as a California State University active employee. If you want to keep the same type of plan (Delta Dental PPO vs DeltaCare USA) but want to enroll in the new enhanced coverage, make sure to select the correct enhanced plan (see the chart below). If you are uncertain which plan you are currently enrolled in (Delta Dental PPO Basic or DeltaCare USA Basic), contact Delta Dental or CalPERS (contact information is below).

​ ​ ​
Current Basic Plans
​​​To​
New Enhanced Plans
Delta Dental PPO Basic​​​→​Delta Dental PPO Voluntary Enhanced II
DeltaCare USA Basic
​→​
​DeltaCare USA Voluntary Enhanced
  • ​Compare the dental plans for CSU retirees: Retiree Dental​ Comparison Charts (PDF)​​
  • ​ To enroll in the Enhanced Plan or make other changes​​, complete the CSU Retiree​ Dental Change/Enrollment Form and fax or mail to CalPERS within 60 days of retirement, or during any future Open Enrollment period.
  • For more information about the new plans or your current coverage, visit Delta Dental’s website at Delta Dental or call Customer Service at 800-626-3108 for Delta Den​​tal PPO and 844-519-8751 for DeltaCare USA.

    If you have questions regarding your enrollment or eligibility, contact CalPERS, Member Account Management Division at 888-225-7377 or visit CalPERS.

FAX THIS FORM TO: (800) 959-6545, or
MAIL THIS FORM TO:
CalPERS – Health Account Management Division
P.O. Box 942715 - Sacramento, CA 94229-2715

To keep the Basic Plan, no action is required. You and all your eligible dependents will be enrolled in the same plan.

CSU Retiree Enhanced Dental Rates
Coverage Effective January 1, 2024
Dental Plan Name​​

Gross Premium Employer Share Retiree Cost
Delta Dental PPO Voluntary Enhanced II​
​Retiree Only
$46.15
$30.45
$15.70

​Retiree + One
​$86.82
​$57.52
​$29.30

​Retiree + Family
​$169.33
​$115.49
​$53.84
DeltaCare USA Voluntary Enhanced​Retiree Only ​
$25.34
$18.85
$6.49

​Retiree + One
​$41.63
​$31.08
​$10.55


​Retiree + Family
​$61.42
​$45.97
​$15.45

The CSU pays 100 percent of the monthly premium cost for the Basic Plan dental coverage for all retirees and their eligible dependents, which includes a spouse or registered domestic partner and/or children up to age 26.​

Delta Dental PPO Plan Enhancements Reminder

Diagnostic and Preventive (D&P) Waiver for the Delta Dental PPO Basic Plan​
When you visit a PPO dentist, your diagnostic and preventive services (like cleanings and exams) will not count against your annual maximum. No action necessary to receive this benefit.

Example Delta Dental Pays You Pay Your remaining maximum
Without D&P Maximum Waiver$300.00$100.00$1,200.00
With D&P Maximum Waiver$300.00$100.00 $1,500.00


Diagnostic and Preventive (D&P) Waiver for the Delta Dental PPO Voluntary Enhanced Plan

When you visit a PPO dentist, your diagnostic and preventive services (like cleanings and exams) will not count against your annual maximum​. No action necessary to receive this benefit.​

Example Delta Dental Pays You Pay Your remaining maximum
Without D&P Waiver$350.00$100.00$1,650.00
With D&P Waiver$350.00$100.00 $2,000.00

More information: Diagnostic-Preventive Waiver for Retirees (PDF)

SmileWay Wellness Benefit
The SmileWay Wellness Benefit offers enhanced coverage for retirees who qualify as “higher risk” (meaning those with a diagnosed medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis or stroke).

Expanded coverage includes one periodontal scaling and root planning procedure per quadrant of the mouth, per calendar year, covered at 100 percent. Also included is four (4) of any combination of yearly cleanings or periodontal maintenance. To use this benefit, retirees must opt in by calling Delta Dental at 800-626-3108

More information: SmileWay Wellness Benefits for Retirees (PDF)

Added Features from Delta Dental

Access to hearing aid discounts offered through Amplifon- Hearing Health Care which offers discounts on top hearing aid brands offering a 62% average savings off retail hearing aid pricing with a choice of leading hearing aid brands and thousands​​ of hearing care providers.

QualSight which offers LASIK services that has preferred pricing on LASIK eye surgery with a 40-50% discount off the national average price of Traditional LASIK at over 1000 LASIK locations with credentialed surgeons that have collectively performed 6.5 million procedures.

To enroll visit Amplifon USA or by calling (888) 779-1429 for Amplifon and visit Qualsight ​or call (855) 248-2020.