Dental Plans
*PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR PLAN YEAR 2025 INFORMATION*
Dental Plans are available to full-time Kean employees and the eligible dependents of these employees. Full-time employees have a choice of the Dental Expense Plan administered by AETNA Dental or a Dental Plan Organization program.
AETNA DENTAL EXPENSE PLAN
The Dental Expense Plan is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan administered by Aetna Dental. The 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. The annual plan deductible is $50 per person/$100 per family in-network, and $75 per person/$150 per family out-of-network. The deductible does not apply to diagnostic, preventive, and orthodontic services. After you satisfy the annual deductible, you are reimbursed a percentage of the reasonable and customary charges or PPO-contracted allowance for services that are covered under the plan. For further details on the DEP in and out of network coverage, you may refer to the Dental Plans Fact Sheet.
DENTAL PLAN ORGANIZATIONS
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. There are several DPOs from which you may choose:
- Horizon Dental Choice
- Aetna DPO
- MetLife
- Cigna
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 DPO coverage, you may refer to the Dental Plans Fact Sheet.
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 Plan.
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 Plan Member Handbook
How/Where to Search for Participating Dentists
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.
Generally, 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. 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.