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Member BenefitsSome organizations distribute a premium when they ask you to join their membership. While paperweights and calendars might be nice, the Chicago Dental Society doesn’t offer such disposable items. Instead, we offer you what you can use—tangible benefits—such as continuing education, an array of insurance programs to meet your practices needs and political representation at the state and national levels. As part of a tripartite membership with the American Dental Association and the Illinois State Dental Society, some of the benefits you get when you join CDS:
CDS members are dentists—either general practitioners or those in one of the eight specialty designations—who fall into one of three membership categories:
Group major medical/disability/long-term care/professional liability and business overhead insurance; peer review and mediation services; organized legislative activities; continuing education activities; scholarly journal and other publications; organized community relations activities; and patient referral service.
DuesThe cost of association and CDS publications is included in the membership dues. Individual publication costs are listed on the invoices. The subscription cost of the CDS Review is $25; student dues are not applied towards the Review. Admittance to the Midwinter Meeting is free to CDS members (registration fee is $175 on site for ADA members who are not also members of CDS). There are a number of categories of dues for members of the Society: Full, Life, Retired, Retired/Life, Half-year, Postgraduate, Associate, Academic Chapter, Disability and Reduced dues for recent graduates. ***The Illinois State Dental Society collects tripartite dues for CDS members in Lake, Cook and DuPage counties. Full DuesMembers who pay full dues are those who have been in practice for three or more years. In 2010, full dues totals $968: $498 to the American Dental Association; $330 to the Illinois State Dental plus a $15 ISDS assessment; and $125 to CDS. Life DuesLife members pay half of the full dues rate. To become a life member you must have been a member of the American Dental Association for 30 consecutive years or 40 non-consecutive years and have already reached age 65. In 2010, life member dues totals $485: $249 to the American Dental Association; $165 to the Illinois State Dental Society plus an $8 ISDS assessment; and $63 to CDS. RetiredRetired members must be completely retired from the practice of dentistry. They must also be an active member prior to retiring to become eligible for retired dues. Dues are approximately one-quarter of the full dues amount. In 2010, retired dues totals $195: $125 to the ADA, $35 to the ISDS and $35 to the CDS. Retired/Life DuesRetired/life members do not pay dues. To become a retired/life member you must have been a member for 30 consecutive years or 40 non-consecutive years; be 65 years old and have completely retired from practice. Half-Year DuesHalf-year memberships are available July through December providing the individual was not a member of the Society in the previous year. In 2010, half-year membership dues totals $485: $249 to the American Dental Association, $165 to the Illinois State Dental Society plus an $8 ISDS assessment; and $63 to CDS. Postgraduate Membership DuesIn 2010, the postgraduate’s dues are $35 per year. CDS will collect American Dental Association postgraduate dues in the amount of $30 and Illinois State Dental Society postgraduate dues in the amount of $30, if the dentist prefers, eliminating the dentist’s need to send separate payment to the ADA. Associate Member DuesIndividuals who do not live in the tri-county area covered by CDS may join providing they are members of the American Dental Association. Associate member dues are $125, which includes free entrance to the Midwinter Meeting and a subscription to the CDS Review. Academic Chapter DuesStudents are encouraged to become involved in organized dentistry during their years in dental school. Dental students from the University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry and Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine pay no dues. Academic Chapter dues are $10 for all other dental students. Student dues are directly applied to the Academic Chapter activities. Benefits include the entrance to the Midwinter Meeting and the CDS Review. Temporary Disability WaiverCurrent members who are injured or ill and who are unable to practice dentistry are eligible for a dues waiver in the amounts of 100%, 75% and 50%, based on the degree of disability. To be eligible to apply for a dues waiver, the dentist must be a current member of the tripartite organization (the American Dental Association, the Illinois State Dental Society and CDS). Medical or financial supporting documentation will be required to process waiver requests. All waiver information remains strictly confidential. Reduced Dues for Recent GraduatesRecent graduates are entitled to four years of reduced dues-the first four calendar years out of dental school. You must maintain membership each year to remain eligible for the reduced rates. In 2010, reduced rates are as follows:
CDS branchesThere are approximately 4,200 CDS members in the Chicago metropolitan area. Because this large number of members is located over a wide geographical area (Cook, DuPage and Lake counties), the organization is divided into nine branches. Branch membership may range up to 900 members, making some of the branches larger than some state dental societies! Although CDS officers and directors manage the activities of the combined branches, each branch has its own officers, directors and committees to handle the affairs of the branch. The branches meet regularly for business and scientific programs. The branch structure provides a source of trained and experienced leaders for the parent society. Most Chicago Dental Society board members and officers have previous experience in their branch organizations. Dividing the tri-county area into nine sections formed the nine Chicago Dental Society Branches. The CDS Board of Directors has adopted a policy that assigns new and non-members to specific branches based on zip code, effective January 1, 2006. The nine branches are as follows (see chart):
InsuranceCDS sponsors a range of insurance plans for its members and their families. Insurance coverage for CDS members includes:
Disability and Business Overhead Expense InsuranceDisability income insurance is a unique coverage that protects your earned income and retirement benefits should you become disabled as the result of sickness or injury. Chances are you do not have enough coverage to maintain the lifestyle to which you are accustomed. The plans are underwritten by the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, and administered by Treloar & Heisel, Inc., 800.852.4900. Some plan features include:
Treloar & Heisel, Inc., has been providing the dental profession with non-cancelable, guaranteed renewable, disability programs for more than 35 years. For more information, rates and applications, or for a personal appointment to review your coverage, call Treloar & Heisel, Inc., 800.852.4900 or 708.479.8100. Long-Term Care InsuranceYou’ve worked your career building a retirement nest egg and possibly an estate for your heirs. Unfortunately, an extended need for home healthcare services or a nursing home stay can dramatically reduce any savings you may have accumulated. The cost for long-term care will come from you, as Medicare may only provide for a limited benefit, if care is needed. Therefore, you may wish to consider participating in the Long-Term Care Insurance Program administered by Treloar & Heisel, Inc. Some plan features include:
For more information, rates and applications, call Treloar & Heisel, Inc., 800.852.4900 or 708.479.8100. Professional Liability InsuranceThe Chicago Dental Society endorses the Cincinnati Insurance Company due to its Dentist's Package Policy broad coverages, financial strength and service provided by local independent agents representing the Cincinnati Insurance Company. To locate the agency nearest you, visit www.cinfin.com. Members interested in Professional Liability Insurance products may contact Michael Terrell at mike_terrell@cinfin.com or 513.870.2361. Workers Compensation InsuranceCDS has reached agreements with Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, rated A Excellent by the A.M. Best Co., and the Southpoint Insurance Agency for the endorsement of the WorkSafe Partners Group Dividend Program for Workers Compensation insurance. Some of the program features offered through the Accident Fund Insurance Company of America include:
Other insurance: Major Medical InsuranceMembers who may be interested in major medical insurance coverage may contact the Illinois State Dental Society for information about its program. CDS is not a plan sponsor for major medical insurance. Publications to support your practiceCDS publishes its membership magazine, the CDS Review, seven times a year. The November issue is the Preliminary Program of the Midwinter Meeting. In addition to practice management and peer-reviewed clinical articles, the CDS Review regularly publishes a Branch News section for its members. Columns and departments within the publication provide information on the legal issues, personal and business finances, scientific abstracts from other dental journals and personal health tips and information. Each issue contains Dental Dateline. This single page is devoted to articles of public interest. Members are encouraged to copy this section and include it in mailings to their patients or to make it available in their waiting areas. Space is provided so that this section can be personalized. During the Midwinter Meeting, the publications department publishes the Daily Review. This award-winning tabloid newspaper includes up-to-the minute information about programs and social events. CDS websiteOur site is designed as a place of information and communication for CDS members and the public about dentistry and dental health.
Advancing the dentist-patient relationshipCDS offers a Mediation and Peer Review Service to the public as a means of amicably settling disputes between patients and their dentists. The advantage for the profession is that through this process the patients and dentists are able to discuss their perceptions of a situation with the aid of an unbiased third party without the expense of an attorney or the need to turn to the courts for relief. The proceedings and outcome of all mediation and peer review cases are strictly confidential. Participation in this process is voluntary and free to all. Midwinter MeetingCDS is the proud sponsor of the Midwinter Meeting, one of the finest scientific meetings and technical exhibitions of its kind in the world. Members of CDS attend the Midwinter Meeting at no charge. Free admittance to the Midwinter Meeting is an expanded right of CDS membership. Only members who have paid their dues in full by Jan. 31 are allowed to pre-register as Category A (free) for the Midwinter Meeting. You may still pay dues in February and at on site at the Midwinter Meeting and attend for free. Once a regional event, today CDS Midwinter Meeting is one of the premier dental meetings in the world drawing more than 30,000 dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, laboratory technicians and representatives from dental manufacturers and distributors. It is customarily rated one of the largest meetings in the United States. The quality and quantity of the continuing education courses presented during the Midwinter Meeting continue to increase. If you are not a regular or associate member of CDS, you will be required to pay a registration fee just to attend the Midwinter Meeting. Non-members paid $600 onsite to attend the meeting. Each year CDS is supported by exhibitors who come from all parts of the world to participate in and contribute to the Midwinter Meeting experience. Each year, more than 600 exhibitors gather at McCormick Place. The revenue generated by the exhibitors helps defray the cost of hosting a major international meeting every February. This also helps the Society grow without relying on dues increases. Regular educational programsFrom January through December, CDS presents four educational programs featuring renowned educators in all facets of clinical and practice management topics. These educational programs are presented free to CDS members and their staffs. Non-members are encouraged to attend these informative continuing education opportunities, but non-members are required to pay a registration fee of $250. The fee may be applied toward membership for the current year. Branch program assistanceFrom September through May, each of the nine Chicago Dental Society branches presents continuing education meetings. The CDS Department of Scientific Programs provides consultation to each of the branch program chairs in the selection of speakers and topics. Video libraryCDS has established a collection of videotapes that are available to regular members in the Chicago area. A variety of new techniques in dentistry, all demonstrated during live presentations during the Midwinter Meeting, can be reviewed at your convenience at home. A nominal $5 handling fee is charged for each program rented. Videocassettes must be returned within a month. Because of contractual arrangements with the organization that produces and markets these videotapes, this offer is valid only for regular CDS members in Cook, Lake and DuPage counties. For more information, contact Chicago Dental Society, 401 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60611-5585; or call 312.836.7311. Special patients, special careCDS maintains a 24-hour referral service, 630.978.5745, to the public (in addition to the online Find-A-Dentist). Member dentists participating in this program are matched with patients who have special needs, or who require a general dentist or specialist who practices in a certain section of the city or suburbs, or who is willing to accept Medicaid patients. For some, dental services are only available through community organizations, all of which need volunteer dentists and dental hygienists. The Illinois Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped seeks volunteers who will treat indigent patients who are disabled or elderly in their dental offices. For more information, or to volunteer, contact the Illinois Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped, P.O. Box 211, Northbrook, IL 60065; or call toll free: 800.893.1685. |
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