MetLife Dental Insurance Pricing

MetLife Dental Insurance Coverage Options

In general, MetLife dental insurance coverage is comprehensive. The benefits that MetLife dental insurance offers ultimately depend on your employer -- read your benefits summary carefully so you know what's included and what's not.

Types of MetLife dental insurance coverage

MetLife MetLife dental insurance covers several types of dental services:

Basic Services: This includes preventive and diagnostic services such as cleaning, laboratory testing, diagnostic models, sealants, fluoride treatments, space maintenance and routine X-rays.

Intermediate Services: This includes restorative services such as filling and extraction.

Major Services: This includes bridges, crowns, root canals, as well as more important restoration services such as dentures and denture repair.

Orthodontic: This coverage includes braces, space maintainers, and other options to align your teeth.

You'll typically pay a percentage of the cost of the service, while the plan will pay the rest.

How MetLife Dental Insurance works

Your plan depends on which plan your employer chooses from MetLife. In general, this is how coverage works.

You'll pay a set amount out of each paycheck, called a premium. Premium is deducted automatically.

When you use your plan, you may have to pay a deductible. This is the amount you must pay before MetLife will cover your dental care. You will also need to insure the coin. Coinsurance is the percentage of a covered service for which you are responsible.

Your sum insured will vary depending on the type of service you are availing. For example, you may not have to pay co-insurance for basic services you receive from an in-network provider. You can also pay:

45% of intermediate services

65% of core services

50% of orthodontic services

If you have a PPO and you see an out-of-network provider, you may pay more. Your coin insurance can be:

40% of basic services

60% of intermediate services

core services

50% of orthodontic services

Most dental plans also have an annual maximum. This is the maximum amount you can pay for the services covered by your plan. For example, you might have a $1,500 annual maximum for in-network benefits and $1,000 for out-of-network benefits. There can be lifetime maximum benefits for orthodontic services. The maximum for orthodontic services can also vary depending on whether the person receiving the benefit is an adult or a child.

Some plans have a waiting period. This is the time you have to wait after starting coverage to receive certain services. You may be able to get basic services right away, but you may have to wait 6 months for intermediate, major and conservative services.

Not covered by MetLife Dental Insurance

MetLife, like all insurance companies, has exclusions for its benefits. This means that it will not pay for care under certain circumstances. Some exclusion include:

Services and treatments before your coverage begins

Services and treatments that are not considered essential

Experimental Services and Treatment

Employment-related injuries (which may be covered under workers' compensation)

Services related to diagnosis and treatment of TMD/TMJ

self injury

injuries resulting from the commission of a crime

Fees for copies of your records

Fee due to canceled appointments

replacement of dentures that have been stolen or lost

nitrous oxide

oral sedation

local anesthesia

Cosmetic treatments (such as teeth whitening)

duplicate device

Vehicle accident-related injuries if those injuries are covered by auto insurance

So implants are covered only if they are medically necessary. MetLife reviews implant claims to determine if they are necessary or if another procedure can be used instead.

MetLife Dental Insurance Claim Support

Dentists often submit claims paperwork on your behalf. If they don't, you can download the claim form from the MetLife website and mail or fax it to MetLife. You can track the status of your claims online or using the mobile app.

Dentists handling claims are the simplest option, obviously, and it's harder to mail or fax claim forms, but at least you can easily see what's going on with your claims, regardless of how they're submitted

MetLife Dental Insurance Mobile App

With the MetLife mobile app, you can find a dentist, view your ID card, change dentists, view your plan information and review claim summaries. If you have other MetLife policies, you can manage them through the app as well. The app is available in Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

MetLife Dental Insurance Pricing

MetLife Dental Insurance is offered exclusively through employers. Most employers cover some or all of the cost of benefits, such as dental insurance, which keeps your costs down. As with any insurance decision, review the dental insurance options your employer offers and compare them based on premium (the amount you pay per paycheck), deductible, co-insurance, copays, and plan limits.

MetLife Dental Insurance Customer Support

MetLife offers two options for customer service. You call them at 800-942-0854. You can also contact customer service by filling out a form on the MetLife website. MetLife does not list its customer service hours on its website, and it does not have options with other insurance companies such as live chat on its website or through its mobile app.

MetLife Dental Insurance Overall Rating

Overall, MetLife offers comprehensive benefits to its members, making it one of the best dental insurance providers. It provides comprehensive dental services and PPO and HMO options.

Keep in mind that each employer selects benefits plans from MetLife, so some services may not be available or may be covered with a different amount coinsurance than in the examples we used. MetLife's Dental HMOs are only available in California, Florida, Texas, New York, and New Jersey. Its dental PPOs are more widely available.

Your employer may offer MetLife specifically for dentistry or it may allow you to choose from several insurance companies. If so, compare your options carefully considering the premium, deductible, co-insurance and maximum annual benefits. You should also compare coverage. For example, if you have a child who needs orthodontic work, it's best to choose a plan that covers that type of care.

MetLife has an extensive network of dentists, and you can find a dentist near you using its website or mobile app. If you already have a dentist, check to see if that dentist is in MetLife's network. If they are not, you may pay more if you have a PPO or the dentist may not be covered.

MetLife Dental Insurance vs. Competitors

What if you don't have access to dental coverage through an employer? In that case, you can buy a separate dental insurance policy. Although you cannot buy MetLife, many other insurance providers offer plans that you can buy directly. Get quotes from at least 2 or 3 companies and compare them to find affordable dental insurance that works for you.

You may be able to get dental insurance plans through your state's health insurance marketplace. You can also visit websites that allow you to get quotes from multiple insurance companies.

Another option is to get a dental discount plan instead of an insurance plan. With dental discount plans, you pay a low monthly or annual fee. You can go to any dentist who accepts the plan and the discount is already taken. You are not required to file a claim.