Dental Plans
*PLAN YEAR 2025 INFORMATION*
NEW - DENTAL PLAN CHANGES FOR 2025
Dental plans offered in 2025 will be changing to HORIZON DEP, AETNA DEP, and AETNA DMO.
HORIZON DEP is a new dental plan.
AETNA DEP and AETNA DMO are existing plans that will continue to be offered in 2025. If you are enrolled in either of these plans in 2024, and you are happy with your coverage, you do not need to take any further steps.
Members currently enrolled in the CIGNA DHMO plan, Horizon Dental Choice plan or the MetLife DPO plan will be automatically defaulted to the Aetna DMO plan in Benefitsolver. If these members log in to Benefitsolver during the Open Enrollment period, they will see that the Aetna DMO plan has already been selected for them. This dental plan change will have a future effective date of January 1, 2025.
Members may change their dental plan during the annual Open Enrollment period. The “12 month rule” will be suppressed, allowing members to select a new dental plan even if they have not been enrolled in their plan for at least 12 months. Any member who wishes to remain enrolled in a Horizon dental plan may actively select the new Horizon DEP plan.
Please be advised that Dental Plans are based on two different plan designs — Dental Plan Organizations (DPO) and a Dental Expense Plan (DEP).
• One DPO is available: Aetna DMO
DPOs contract with a network of providers for dental services. When an employee or dependent uses a DPO dentist, diagnostic and preventive services are covered in full. Most other eligible expenses require a small copayment. Members must use a provider that participates with the selected DPO to receive coverage. Be sure to confirm that the dentist or dental facility is taking new patients and participates with the SHBP Employee Dental Plans, since DPOs also service other organizations.
• Two Dental Expense Plans (DEP) are available: Aetna DEP and Horizon DEP.
The DEP is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan that allows members to obtain services from any dentist; however, using an in-network provider will reduce an employee’s costs. After satisfying an annual deductible (no deductible for preventive services), members are reimbursed a percentage of the reasonable and customary charges for eligible services
Dental Plans are available to full-time Kean employees and the eligible dependents (including spouses, civil-union partners, certain same-sex domestic partners and dependent children until the age of 26) of these employees. Full-time employees have a choice of two plan designs DEP or DMO. Following are the three dental plans offered:
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AETNA DEP
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HORIZON DEP
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AETNA DMO
DENTAL EXPENSE PLAN - DEP
The Dental Expense Plans are Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans. This type of plan allows you to choose any licensed dentist for your dental care; however, you will pay less if you use an in-network provider. There is a deductible to satisfy for some services, and some services are eligible only up to a limited amount. For further details on the DEP in and out of network coverage, you may refer to the Dental Plan Designs. Below are the DEP plans offered in 2025:
DENTAL PLAN ORGANIZATION - DPO
The DPOs are companies that contract with a network of providers for dental services. In order to receive coverage, you must use providers who participate with the DPO network that you select. Below is the DMO plan offered in 2025:
Be sure you confirm that the dentist or dental facility you are using is taking new patients and participates with the SHBP Dental Plan.
The full cost for most services is prepaid to the dentist, but certain services require that the employee pay an additional co-payment. If the employee chooses a more expensive treatment, he or she must pay the extra cost. Services rendered by a dentist who is not a member of the Dental Plan Organization will not be covered, unless that dentist is referred in advance by the Dental Plan Organization. For further details on the DPO in and out of network coverage, you may refer to the Dental Plan Designs.
COSTS
The employee cost for coverage under a dental plan is 50 percent of the actual dental plan premium. Therefore, the employee cost varies depending on which dental plan an employee chooses; however, the rate for coverage under a DPO remains considerably less expensive than the Dental Expense Plans.
Required Minimum Enrollment Period
It is important that you select the Dental Plan that will best serve you and your dependents, if any. Once enrolled, you and your eligible dependents must remain in the dental plan you elect for a minimum of 12 months before you can change plans or drop coverage. In the event that you wish to change dental plans, you will not be permitted to do so until the Open Enrollment period following the 12-month period.
Below you will find additional resources to assist you in making your dental plan selection.
Employee Dental Plans Member Handbook
How/Where to Search for Participating Dentists
Aetna DEP/DMO – Find a provider link
Horizon DEP – Find a provider link
DENTAL PROVIDER SEARCH
Find a dentist near you:
Aetna DEP/DMO – Find a provider link
Horizon DEP – Find a provider link
Resources guides for the dental plans can be found below:
ONLINE ENROLLMENT
All dental elections must be submitted online through Benefitsolver which can be accessed via the myNewJersey account portal
Employee Guide to Logging into Benefitsolver
The Company Key is SHBP/SEHBP (all capital letters). Please note that dental rates may also be viewed in the portal.
New Hire Waiting Periods
Employees and their eligible dependents may be covered after 60 days of continuous employment. Full-time faculty members whose appointments start on September 1 may be covered as of the beginning of the academic year. Full-time faculty members that begin employment on other dates are eligible for health benefits following a 60 day waiting period.
If you do not enroll when first eligible, you have the option to enroll during the annual SHBP Open Enrollment period. Open Enrollment is normally held in the fall, with coverage effective the following January. If you do not enroll because of other dental coverage and later lose that coverage, you can enroll by submitting a form within 60 days of the loss of coverage.
Please be reminded to contact the benefits team at benefits@kean.edu if you have any questions related to selecting your dental plan.