Group Dental product updates: Effective Jan. 1, 2026
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) is excited to announce updates to our underwriting guidelines and pricing for our SignatureBlue Group Dental line of products. By making these updates, we can strengthen our bundled full-health package of Medical, Dental and Vision products and it aligns us with our initiative to make it easy and affordable for brokers and employers to do business with us.
Our plan offerings will not be changing. We are loosening underwriting guidelines to make our dental products available for nearly every employer that is interested. We are also updating some pricing methodologies and alleviating unnecessary rating factors. These updates will be effective Jan. 1, 2026. Quoting will be available for these changes no later than Oct. 1, 2025. Please contact your broker to request a dental quote.
What is changing for SignatureBlue effective Jan. 1, 2026?
Underwriting updates:
Voluntary plan options and ratings will become available, meaning we no longer require a group to contribute to premiums for a Dental plan
For those groups that do wish to contribute, the contribution requirements are being lowered from 60% of the premium to 5% of the single rate
Participation requirements are being lowered from 50% to 20%
Custom plan options will now be available for both fully-insured and ASO groups
Stand-alone custom plans will be allowed
Pricing updates:
One rate for all – removing unnecessary surcharges
Removing surcharge for not having medical coverage with us
Removing surcharge for not having prior dental coverage
Removing urban/rural rating
Brokers and groups will know what plans are available and the pricing that goes with them
Groups with 10+ enrolled contracts can get all 11 plan options
Groups with 2-9 enrolled contracts can get all plan options with the exception of plans that include Orthodontic coverage
Plan designs and cost shares are not changing for Jan. 1, 2026.
Selling features and differentiators
SignatureBlue has a lot of great features and product differentiators. These include:
Bundled full-health package: We will now be able to offer a complete full-health product bundle that includes industry-leading medical, dental and vision products.
Bundling discount applied to medical premium: For each BCBSNE dental or vision product purchased, fully insured groups will be able to take an additional 0.5% off their medical premium. ASO groups will be able to take $0.25 PCPM off their administration fees per product purchased.
Voluntary options: This product will offer both voluntary and contributory pricing options for any sized group. Groups can get the bundled discount even if they purchase a voluntary vision or dental option, meaning they get a discount off the medical premium without paying anything towards the vision or dental plan.
DentalGrid network: BCBSNE has access to a large number of trusted dentists.
One bill: Fully-insured groups that bundle products with us will receive one bill for everything.
One ID card: Members that bundle our products will receive one ID card for all.
Plan options: We have flexible plan options available. We offer $1000, $1500 and $2000 Calendar Year Maximum options. We have plans with child and/or adult ortho included. We have passive plan options for those groups in remote areas of the state. We also have plans that offer Endo/Perio coverage in either class B or C services.
Stand-alone Dental: We are able to offer stand-alone group Dental plans.
Custom rates may be available for groups with 100+ enrolled and custom plan designs are available for groups with 250+ enrolled.
Reach out to your Broker or Account Executive for any questions.
