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Nebraska dental insurance guide 2023

Nebraska dental insurance guide 2023

Nebraska's health insurance marketplace has certified individual and family dental plans from four insurers

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.

Frequently asked questions about dental coverage in Nebraska

How much does dental insurance cost in Nebraska?

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.

Are stand-alone pediatric dental plans on the exchange ACA-compliant?

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.

Which insurers offer dental coverage through the Nebraska marketplace?

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:

  • BEST Life
  • Delta Dental of Nebraska
  • Guardian
  • Truassure

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.

Can I buy dental insurance outside of Nebraska's exchange?

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.

How does Nebraska Medicaid and CHIP provide dental coverage?

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.

Related articles

Here's what you need to know when you're shopping for adult dental coverage through a state health insurance marketplace or directly from a dental plan carrier.
There is no penalty for not having pediatric dental on your policy – and in most exchanges, you can purchase a plan without pediatric dental. But off-exchange, carriers are required ...
If you're an adult who bought a dental insurance plan, your out-of-pocket costs will depend entirely on the amount of dental care you need during the year. But for children, ...
For those who purchase their own insurance, the decision to purchase dental coverage is not always as clear-cut as the decision to purchase health insurance.
Pediatric dental is one of the essential health benefits, although it’s a bit more complicated than the other nine. Some medical policies have pediatric dental embedded in the plan, and ...

Other types of coverage

Individual and Family
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Nebraska health insurance marketplace guide 2023

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.

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Short-term health insurance in Nebraska

Check short-term health insurance plan availability in Nebraska and shop for coverage. Learn about state regulations regarding short-term plan duration and renewal.

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Medicaid eligibility and enrollment in Nebraska

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.

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Medicare in Nebraska

For all information on Medicare in Nebraska, healthinsurance.org has you covered. Get all the resources you need to make an informed decision.

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Learn about health insurance coverage options in your state.

Our state guides offer up-to-date information about ACA-compliant individual and family plans and marketplace enrollment; Medicaid expansion status and Medicaid eligibility; short-term health insurance regulations and short-term plan availability; and Medicare plan options.