PD Primer - PennDesign - University of Pennsylvania

the school
hEALth & dEntAL
ache (that could require a root canal) can cause you
more anguish than just the physical pain when it
comes time to pay up.
Dental plans starting at $122 for the semester are
available through Chickering Group/Aetna. Sign up
by printing and mailing the form on www.chickering.com.
Alternatively, check to see if you can get
dental insurance as a dependent under a parent or
spouse’s coverage—most plans allow additional coverage
for a small fee.
If you were working prior to graduate school, find
out if your former employer can keep you under
their group coverage for dental insurance. Under
COBRA, all employers are required by law to provide
you with the option of continuing health insurance
(at your cost) and might be willing to do so
for dental care too. Lastly, if you have had previous
dental problems, read the fine print for disclaimers
on “pre-existing conditions” in whichever plan you
do get.
dEntAL CARE At PEnn
Penn’s dental school runs a clinic staffed by students.
The care here is slower (since the students are being
supervised) but cheaper than a private practice. In
order to see a student dentist, you must become a
patient of record by going through the new-patient
31 PDPRIMER 2011
clinic. The initial visit takes two
hours and costs $70 ($40 less if you
have a current set of full X-rays).
Getting an appointment is tough,
with waiting periods of several
weeks, so you might have to call a
couple of times and be persistent.
Additionally, the Emergency Care
Clinic is open every weekday starting
at 8am (10am on Fridays).
There is usually a long line starting
as early as 6am each morning, and
the clinic often has to turn patients
away when they fill their daily
capacity. If you need emergency
treatment, get there by 7am at the
latest to ensure being admitted that
day (if you develop a problem in
the afternoon, call 215-898-8965).
The emergency evaluation costs
$40 and includes an examination
and one X-ray.
Penn’s Dental Care Network operates
like a private practice, with
licensed dentists and several locations
around campus. This is probably
the best option for students
covered by insurance.
hEALth & dEntAL
STUDENT HEalTH SER-
VICES
www.vpul.upenn.edu/shs
399 S 34th St (under Penn
Tower, enter down long
sidewalk off 34th)
MWThF 8-7:30
Tu 8-11:30am, 2:00-7:30pm
Sa-Su 11-4:30
Appointments: 215-662-2852
Insurance: 215-573-3523/4
WOMEN’S HEalTH
M-Tu 9-7:30, W-F 9-5
Appointments: 215-662-2874
COUNSElING aND
PSYCHOlOGICal SERVICES
www.vpul.upenn.edu/caps
133 South 36th St, 2nd Floor
(above ann Taylor loft)
Appointments: 215-898-7021
PENN DENTal MEDICINE
www.dental.upenn.edu/
patients
240 S 40th St (at locust;
Emergency Clinic, 2nd Floor)
Appointments: 215-898-8965
PDPRIMER 2011 32