Eligibility and Enrollment: Endowed faculty and staff who work at least 20 hours per week, or 50% FTE, and who are included in payroll/benefit classifications designated by Cornell are eligible to apply for coverage under the Endowed Dental Insurance Plan. Your spouse/domestic partner and children are eligible. Children may be covered through December 31 of the year in which their 26th birthday occurs.
New endowed faculty and staff have 60 days from the date of hire to enroll. If you experience a qualifying event (e.g., marriage), you must enroll within 60 days. Once you enroll, you cannot stop or change your election until the next annual open enrollment period, unless you experience a change in family status. A change in family status includes but is not limited to, birth, marriage, divorce, termination, and dependent death.
Effective Date of Coverage: Changes made during Open Enrollment will be effective January 1. Outside of Open Enrollment, your benefits will become effective on the first day of the pay period after your date of hire or qualifying event (e.g., marriage, divorce). If your date of hire or qualifying event is the first day of the pay period, your effective date is the date of your hire/qualifying event.
Provider Flexibility: MetLife’s Preferred Dentist Program is a Dental PPO program. Each plan member is free to visit any licensed dentist, in or out-of-network, and receive benefits. In addition, family members do not need to see the same provider.
- Dental Network†: Members can typically save 30-45% on out-of-pocket costs when visiting an in-network provider in either the Dental Standard or Dental Plus plans.