Glossary
Actively-at-work
You are "actively at work" if you are fulfilling your job responsibilities at a Company-approved location on the day coverage is supposed to begin (e.g., you are not out ill or on a leave of absence).
Active Work Status
You must be actively-at-work during your approved scheduled work week and not on any type of leave.
After-tax (Post-tax) Contributions
Contributions taken from your paycheck after taxes are withheld.
Approved Spouse and Domestic Partner
Adding a spouse or same gender or opposite gender domestic partner to certain benefits coverage is permitted upon employment or during the Annual Enrollment period for coverage effective the following January 1st if you satisfy the plans' criteria, or immediately upon satisfying the plans' criteria if you previously did not qualify. To obtain spousal or domestic partner coverage, you will need to complete an Affidavit of Eligible Family Membership via PeopleLink (www.mmcpeoplelink.com), declaring that:
Spouse / Domestic Partner
  • You have already received a marriage license from a U.S. state or local authority, or registered your domestic partnership with a U.S. state or local authority.
Spouse Only
  • Although not registered with a U.S. state or local authority, your relationship constitutes a marriage under U.S. state or local law (e.g. common law marriage or a marriage outside the U.S. that is honored under U.S. state or local law).
Domestic Partner Only
  • Although not registered with a U.S. state or local authority, your relationship constitutes an eligible domestic partnership. To establish that your relationship constitutes an eligible domestic partnership you and your domestic partner must:
    • be at least 18 years old
    • not be legally married, under federal law, to each other or anyone else or part of another domestic partnership during the previous 12 months
    • currently be in an exclusive, committed relationship with each other that has existed for at least 12 months and is intended to be permanent
    • currently reside together, and have resided together for at least the previous 12 months, and intend to do so permanently
    • have agreed to share responsibility for each other's common welfare and basic financial obligations
    • not be related by blood to a degree of closeness that would prohibit marriage under applicable state law.
Marsh & McLennan Companies reserves the right to require documentary proof of your domestic partnership or marriage at any time, for the purpose of determining benefits eligibility. If requested, you must provide documents verifying the registration of your domestic partnership with a state or local authority, your cohabitation and/or mutual commitment, or a marriage license that has been approved by a state or local government authority.
Once your Affidavit of Eligible Family Membership is completed and processed, you may cover the eligible child(ren) of your spouse or domestic partner.
Complete your affidavit, via PeopleLink (www.mmcpeoplelink.com). Select the Health tab and under Dental Plan, click Dental. Then go to Take Action in the right navigation bar and select Enroll, view, change benefits.
Bitewing
A bitewing is the dental X-ray showing the crown portions of the upper and lower teeth.
Bridge
A bridge is a strong connecting link between two or more teeth, replacing a missing tooth or teeth. It usually has a gold frame and porcelain that has the shape and color of the missing teeth.
Crown
A crown—also called a cap—is a porcelain or gold tooth cover for a decayed, damaged, brittle or discolored tooth that has a strong base and roots.
Dentures
Dentures are removable, artificial teeth designed to help you chew, restore your bite and improve your appearance.
Eligible Family Members
Child/Dependent Child means:
  • your biological child 
  • a child for whom you or your spouse are the legally appointed guardian with full financial responsibility
  • the child of an approved domestic partner
  • your stepchild
  • your legally adopted child or a child or child placed with you for adoption.
Note: Any child that meets one of these eligibility requirements and who is incapable of self support by reason of a total physical or mental disability as determined by the Claims Administrator, may be covered beyond the end of the calendar year in which the child attains age 26.
Dependent children are eligible for healthcare coverage until the end of the calendar year in which they attain age 26. This eligibility provision applies even if your child is married, has access to coverage through his or her employer, doesn't attend school full-time or live with you, and is not your tax dependent.
Note: While married children are eligible for healthcare coverage under your plan until the end of the calendar year in which they attain age 26, this provision does not apply to your child's spouse and/or child(ren), unless you or your spouse is the child's legally appointed guardian with full financial responsibility.
The Company has the right to require documentation to verify dependency (such as a copy of the court order appointing legal guardianship). Company medical coverage does not cover foster children or other children living with you, including your grandchildren, unless you are their legal guardian with full financial responsibility—that is, you or your spouse claims them as a dependent on your annual tax return.
Eligible MMA Employees
As used throughout this document, "MMA Employees" are defined as employees classified on payroll as U.S. regular employees of MMA Corporate, Insurance Alliance, MMA-NIA or the MMA Anchorage office.
Eligible Marsh & McLennan Companies Employees (other than MMA)
As used throughout this document, "Marsh & McLennan Companies Employees (other than MMA)" are defined as employees classified on payroll as U.S. regular employees of Marsh & McLennan Companies or any subsidiary or affiliate of Marsh & McLennan Companies (other than MMA and any of its subsidiaries).
Endodontic Treatment
Endodontics refers to the care of the pulp chambers and root canals of your natural teeth; it usually involves sterilization and filling.
Fluoride
Fluoride is a natural substance found in minerals that works with your tooth or bone structure to make it stronger and more resistant to acid decay.
Gingivectomy
Gingivectomy refers to the surgical removal of the flaps of gum tissue that create pockets alongside teeth that have periodontal damage. This operation is designed to stop periodontal disease.
In-network
When you receive care from a dentist who has an agreement with your Plan, it is referred to as in-network care. Your costs are generally lower for in-network care than for out-of-network care.
Inlays and Onlays
An inlay is a cast porcelain, composite or gold filling that is used to help restore the side or top area of a tooth. Onlays are similar to inlays but are used to cover the entire chewing surface of a tooth.
Oral surgery
Oral surgery is surgery of the oral mouth cavity, including teeth and gums. Dental oral surgery typically includes complex extractions and other surgical procedures.
Orthodontia
Orthodontia is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities through the use of devices such as removable appliances or fixed braces to remove teeth or adjust underlying bone.
Out-of-network
When you receive care from a dentist who does not have an agreement with your Plan, your services are considered out-of-network. Your costs are generally lower for in-network care than for out-of-network care.
Periodontics
Periodontics is the treatment of the supporting structure of the tooth—the gum and bone tissue
Reasonable and Customary Charges
A reasonable and customary (R&C) charge is the lesser of the fee most dentists in an area normally charge for the same type of dental service (as determined by MetLife) and your provider's actual charges. It is sometimes called usual, reasonable and customary (URC); or usual, customary and reasonable (UCR) charges.
Root Canal
A root canal is a procedure where the nerve of a heavily decayed tooth is removed from the tooth and replaced with a filling material.
Sealant
A sealant is the protective plastic coating applied over grooves in your teeth to prevent decay.
Space maintainer
A space maintainer is an appliance children use in their mouths to keep a space until a permanent tooth comes in to fill the space so their remaining teeth don't drift or crowd new teeth.
Splinting
Splinting is connecting teeth with a fixed appliance.
Time limit
Some covered services are reimbursed based on time limits. In these cases, reimbursement is determined by the exact date of the covered service. For example, the Plan reimburses dentures only after 60 months since the dentures were placed. So, if you received dentures on June 16, 2001, you will next be eligible to receive a new set of dentures on or after June 16, 2006. This is true even if new dentures are lost or stolen.
TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) Syndrome
TMJ/TMD syndrome is a medical or dental problem related to the temporomandibular joint that links the jaw bone and skull.