MetLife Dental Insurance

A Quick Introduction to MetLife

MetLife is one of the largest providers of insurance, annuities, and employee benefit programs. Founded in1868, the company is dedicated to providing working-class Americans with financial protection. Over the years, MetLife has helped generations of customers around the world protect their property, finances, family, and future. The largest commercial dental insurance carrier in the U.S., MetLife proudly offers both dental and vision benefits on DentalInsurance.com. Their range across the U.S. spans from New York to California, as far south as Florida and as far north as Alaska.

You deserve the best care to keep you and your family healthy, and costs should never prevent you from getting the care you need. Whether you need routine cleanings, braces, or a dental filling, having a solid dental plan helps makes it easier to protect your smile and your budget. MetLife's plans, service, and discounts make it easier for you to save and protect your family's health.

When you choose MetLife, you get an insurer who will help you save in ways you've never imagined. It's more than discounts. You'll see it in the way MetLife manages claims and the selection of providers in its networks. MetLife is your total solution for healthier smiles, brighter eyes, lower costs, and award-winning service.

Why Enroll in a MetLife Dental Plan?

The advantages of MetLife dental coverage include:

• MetLife's large network and flexible coverage options help keep your out-of-pocket costs down
• Finding the right dentist is easy with the MetLife dental network, which includes over 146,000 providers
• Visit providers in or out of network with our flexible plans
• Members benefit from our negotiated fees, which are typically 30-45% less than average

Some Quick Facts About MetLife

• Recognized and trusted by approximately 100 million customers worldwide
• Over 90 million customers in over 60 countries
• More than 150 years of experience
• Serves more than 90 of the top 100 companies in the Fortune 500 for the U.S.

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How to Enroll in a MetLife Dental Plan

MetLife dental insurance comes in a variety of options available across the United States. Use our free dental insurance comparison tool to find the right MetLife dental plan for you needs and budget. Before enrolling in your MetLife plan, make certain you review MetLife dental plans for:

• Covered dental services (such as fillings, crowns, and root canals)
• Annual limits (this is often called a plan’s “maximum benefit”)
• Dental network (PPO plans typically allow the use of out-of-network dentists while HMOs typically restrict enrollees to in-network dentists)
• Premium (the monthly charge for the insurance coverage)

Once you’ve found the right MetLife plan for your needs, select the Apply Now button. This will begin the insurance application form. The application will ask basic information such as your name (and family members’ names if you are applying for family coverage), your address, and payment details. The process will also have you select an Effective Date for the insurance policy. The Effective Date is the first day the insurance coverage is active for use. This date might be the first day of the month after the month in which you apply for coverage.

Once the application completed and submitted, you will receive an email confirming your coverage.

What if I Need Emergency Dental Care?

See your insurance’s Summary of Benefits for detailed information pertaining to emergencies. This is important information because your regular in-network dentist may not be available if your emergency happens outside of regular office hours. Dental plans may also have additional conditions that apply to emergencies away from home during or international travel.

How Do I Find a Dentist Who Accepts My Insurance?

If you already have a dentist you like, call this dentist’s front office and ask if your specific plan is accepted. If you do not have a dentist yet, you can use this website or the insurance company website to find in-network dentists in your region.

What Is a Participating Dentist?

A “participating dentist” is a way of describing a dentist who belongs to the dental plan’s network. A participating dentist has agreed to the reimbursement rates dictated by the dental plan. A dentist who does not is referred to as an out-of-network dentist or nonparticipating dentist.

Can I still See a Specialist (e.g.an oral surgeon) if I Belong to a HMO Dental Plan?

Yes. HMO dental plans allow enrollees to see specialists. However, in order to have a specialist’s work covered by the HMO plan, the specialist must be in-network and the service rendered must be one of the benefits covered by the insurance.

What Will I Pay for Seeing a Specialist?

The out-of-pocket charges for a specialist depend on the care delivered by the specialist. Other factors, such as the specialist being in-network and your deductible being satisfied, can affect what you pay.

Is Preauthorization Required to See a Specialist?

It depends on the dental plan you have. In an HMO dental plan, a person’s primary care dentist must make a referral to a specialist. In a PPO or indemnity plan, a referral or prior service approval may not be necessary. Some specialists may provide care not covered by insurance such as cosmetic dentistry.

Can I Buy Dental Insurance for Myself and My Family if I Do Not have Dental Benefits Through Work?

Yes. Both individual coverage and family coverage can be purchased by consumers as well as employers. Employer plans may subsidize the premiums of employees while consumers buying insurance on their own pay the full price. Some dental plans may have deductible limits for families to save them money.

Does MetLife Offer Dental Insurance in Every State?

Yes, but the specific MetLife dental plans available in each state can differ.

What’s the Difference between Individual Insurance and Group Insurance?

Individual insurance, also known as individual and family insurance, is a type of dental coverage purchased privately by consumers. This insurance product is not purchased by employers or unions. Employers and unions purchase a type of dental coverage known as group insurance, because it insures a group of workers or employees. While an individual plan may have many enrollees when you count both spouses and children, it is still considered an individual and family plan, and not a group plan.

Do I Need Group Dental Insurance for a Family?

No. Group insurance is made to provide insurance coverage for organizations like companies and unions. Families buy non-group plans even though they have multiple enrollees. The non-group plans are known as individual and family dental insurance.