Dental Plans
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 age 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. 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. If 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
DENTAL PROVIDER SEARCH
Find a dentist near you:
Aetna DEP/DMO – Find a provider link
Horizon DEP – Find a provider link
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.
Additional Resources
For additional information regarding the SHBP, please refer to the Division of Pensions and Benefits.
If you have questions regarding your benefits, please contact benefits@kean.edu.
The HR benefits team is here to support you. If you have questions regarding your benefits, please free to contact us:
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Via email benefits@kean.edu
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Via phone - Paige O’Brien (908-737-3302) or benefits team contacts
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In Person -
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Walk Ins welcome for general questions.
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Appointments recommended for in-depth topic reviews.
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