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Nebraska uses the federally facilitated health insurance marketplace HealthCare.gov for the sale of certified individual/family dental plans.
Not all insurers who offer medical plans through the Nebraska exchange include dental coverage with their health plans, but stand-alone dental plans are available for purchase that cover both adults and children.
For adults who purchase their own stand-alone or family dental coverage through the exchange, premiums range from $34 to $91 per month.
IHC Specialty Benefits reports that the average monthly premium for a stand-alone family dental plan sold in Nebraska in 2022 was $39.41.
If a family is purchasing coverage through the health insurance exchange, the premiums associated with pediatric dental coverage may or may not be offset by premium tax credits (premium subsidies). Here’s more about how that works, depending on whether the health plan has integrated pediatric dental benefits.
The stand-alone pediatric dental plans available in Nebraska will comply with the ACA’s pediatric dental coverage rules. This means out-of-pocket costs for pediatric dental care will not exceed $375 per child in 2023 (or $750 for all the children on a family’s plan), and there is no cap on medically-necessary pediatric dental benefits.
As is the case for all essential health benefits, the specific coverage requirements for pediatric dental care are guided by the state’s essential health benefits benchmark plan.
The Nebraska benchmark plan includes coverage for both basic and major dental services for children.
In 2023, four insurers offer stand-alone individual/family dental coverage through the health insurance marketplace in Nebraska. These are dental plans that are not included with a medical plan and must be purchased separately:
This coverage can be purchased through HealthCare.gov during open enrollment (November 1 to January 15) or during a special enrollment period triggered by a qualifying life event. Exchange-certified stand-alone dental plans are compliant with the ACA’s rules for pediatric dental coverage.
There are also a variety of dental insurers that sell stand-alone dental plans directly to consumers in Nebraska. These plans are not subject to the ACA’s essential health benefit rules for pediatric dental coverage, but they are regulated by the Nebraska Department of Insurance. If you would like to purchase a non-ACA qualified dental plan, ask a dentist for recommendations or search online.
There are also various dental discount plans available in every state. Dental discount plans are not insurance, but can offer discounted rates at participating dentists. Learn about the differences between dental insurance and dental discount plans.
To find plans in your area, search online for dental discount plans and the state you are looking to buy a plan in.
Adults enrolled in Medicaid in Nebraska are eligible for limited dental services with an annual cap of $750. Children are also eligible for dental benefits through Nebraska Medicaid.
ACCESSNebraska operates the state’s CHIP, which provides dental coverage to uninsured children 18 years of age and under who are ineligible for Medicaid.
Four insurers offer plans statewide in Nebraska's exchange for 2023. That includes one newcomer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, and one exit, as Bright Health will no longer offer plans after 2022.
Check short-term health insurance plan availability in Nebraska and shop for coverage. Learn about state regulations regarding short-term plan duration and renewal.
Voters in Nebraska approved a ballot initiative in the 2018 election that called for Medicaid expansion. Enrollment began August 1, 2020, and coverage took effect in October 2020, nearly two years after voters approved the measure. The state had planned to have a work requirement for enhanced Medicaid benefits, but eliminated that requirement in 2021.
For all information on Medicare in Nebraska, healthinsurance.org has you covered. Get all the resources you need to make an informed decision.
