Dental Options

2021 and 2022 Plan Year Information

Dental Plan Coverage Options

You have three dental options to choose from:

  • MetLife Option A
  • Delta Dental
  • MetLife Option B

MetLife Option A and Delta Dental offer similar services, with different providers in each administrator’s network. Additionally, Delta Dental offers greater discounts through select out-of-network providers.

International employees: Certain U.S. benefits-eligible international employees and U.S. expatriates are eligible to enroll in the Cigna Global Health Dental Plan.

Benefits in Brief

Considerations when choosing dental coverage:

  • All plan options include in-network preventive care at no cost to you.
  • Will you need a crown, bridge or other dental work beyond regular checkups and cleanings? MetLife Option A and Delta Dental have richer coverage.
  • Will you or your family need braces? MetLife Option A covers child and adult orthodontics; MetLife Option B covers only child (up to age 19) orthodontics.

What’s Covered

All options cover in-network preventive care, at no cost to you. That generally includes routine oral exams, X-rays, cleanings, sealants and fluoride treatments. The options also cover diagnostic, basic and restorative services and varying levels of orthodontia services – although MetLife Option B doesn’t cover out-of-network orthodontia.

Dental Networks

MetLife Preferred Provider (PDP) Network

Metlife’s nationwide network features more than 317,000 dentists, and all PDP dentists must meet MetLife’s standards for licensing, education, practice history and emergency coverage.

When you receive services from a PDP dentist, you do not need to meet an annual deductible, your out-of-pocket expenses are reduced to pre-negotiated rates and your annual benefit maximum is greater than if you use a non-PDP dentist.

Delta Dental PPO Network

With Delta Dental, you have the option of seeing in-network providers, Premier Network providers and out-of-network providers:

  • Delta Dental PPO In-Network Providers: You may obtain services from any of Delta Dental’s 283,600 PPO network provider locations nationwide. With a PPO provider, the cost of services has been negotiated and is generally the lowest.
  • Delta Dental Premier Network Providers: You may obtain services from the Delta Dental Premier network of approximately 359,000 providers. Those participating in the Premier network have contracted their service fees directly with Delta Dental and may be lower than out-of-network providers.
  • Out-of-Network: You may obtain services from any out-of-network provider of your choice, but the cost will generally be the highest.

What You Pay When You Need Care

MetLife Option ADelta DentalMetLife Option B
Note

The figures in the chart below reflect what the Plan pays, with the exception of deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, which employees pay.

Individual Annual Deductible

In-Network:
No annual deductible

Out-of-Network:
$50

In-Network:
No annual deductible

Out-of-Network:
$50

In-Network:
No annual deductible

Out-of-Network:
$100

Family Annual Deductible

In-Network:
No annual deductible

Out-of-Network:
$150

In-Network:
No annual deductible

Out-of-Network:
$150

In-Network:
No annual deductible

Out-of-Network:
$300

Diagnostic and Preventive Care

In-Network:
100%

Out-of-Network:
80% of R&C; deductible waived

In-Network:
100%

Out-of-Network:
80% of R&C; deductible waived

85% of allowed amount for Delta Premier; deductible waived

In-Network:
100%

Out-of-Network:
50% of R&C; deductible waived

Restorative Services

In-Network:
80% of discounted fee

Out-of-Network:
75% of R&C, after annual deductible

In-Network:
80% of discounted fee

Out-of-Network:
75% of R&C, after annual deductible

In-Network:
80% of discounted fee

Out-of-Network:
40% of R&C, after annual deductible

Prosthodontics

In-Network:
50% of discounted fee

Out-of-Network:
50% of R&C, after annual deductible

In-Network:
50% of discounted fee

Out-of-Network:
50% of R&C, after annual deductible

In-Network:
50% of discounted fee

Out-of-Network:
25% of R&C, after annual deductible

Orthodontics

In-Network:
50% of discounted fee, up to a $3,000 lifetime benefit maximum per person (children to age 26 and adults)

Out-of-Network:
50% of R&C, up to a $3,000 lifetime benefit maximum per person (children to age 26 and adults)

In-Network:
50% of discounted fee, up to a $3,000 lifetime benefit maximum per person (children to age 26 and adults)

Out-of-Network:
50% of R&C or Allowed Amount (Delta Premier), up to a $3,000 lifetime benefit maximum per person (children to age 26 and adults)

In-Network:
50% of discounted fee, up to a $2,000 lifetime benefit maximum per child (children to age 19)

Out-of-Network:
Not covered

Annual Benefit Maximum per Person

In-Network:
$3,000

Out-of-Network:
$2,000

In-Network:
$3,000

Out-of-Network:
$2,000

In-Network:
$2,000

Out-of-Network:
$1,000

In-Network vs. Out-of-Network

Dental networks differ according to Dental Plan administrator. Under the MetLife Options A and B, in-network includes any providers in the PDP network. Under Delta Dental, in-network includes any providers in the PPO network.

Out-of-network includes non-PDP or non-PPO services, depending on your administrator. Out-of-network reimbursements and maximums are based on reasonable and customary (R&C) charges as determined by each Dental Plan administrator. Please refer to the Health Benefits and Insurance Summary Plan Description for details.

Under Delta Dental, your out-of-network costs may be less than MetLife Options A and B if you use a Delta Dental PPO Premier network provider.

Dental Services
  • Diagnostic and preventive services: X-rays and cleanings
  • Restorative services: fillings, oral surgery, root canals and gum treatments
  • Prosthodontics: crowns, bridges, dentures and implants
Orthodontics Lifetime Maximum Benefit

The orthodontics lifetime benefit maximum is combined across plan options.

A Note About Annual Benefit Maximums

In no event can any one person receive more than the annual benefit maximum during a calendar year (excluding orthodontics), even if provided by an in-network or PDP dentist.

Paycheck Contributions

You and the Firm share the cost of your Dental Plan coverage. Your contributions are deducted from your pay on a before-tax basis.

See how paycheck contributions compare for each plan.

Delta Dental and MetLife Option AMetLife Option B
Comparing the Three National Dental Options

Each option covers preventive, diagnostic, basic and major treatments.

Paycheck Contributions

Highest

Lowest

Coverage

Highest

Lowest

Orthodontics Covered

Child (up to age 26) and adult

Child only (up to age 19)

Dental Contributions

You and the Firm share the cost of your Dental Plan coverage. Your contributions are deducted from your pay on a before-tax basis.

Note: Your location and salary band are used to calculate only your medical contribution rates.
The costs shown below are per paycheck contributions. For the monthly cost, double the amounts shown.

 Yourself OnlyYourself + Spouse/Domestic PartnerYourself + ChildrenYourself + Family
MetLife Option A$13.67$27.38$27.38$41.04
Delta Dental$13.67$27.38$27.38$41.04
MetLife Option B$7.75$15.50$15.50$23.50

If you are covering a domestic partner or the children of a domestic partner, the IRS determines the tax status of a dependent and may impose a tax on the value of coverage. Consult your tax advisor for more information.

Dental ID Cards

The Morgan Stanley Dental Plan administrators (MetLife, Delta Dental and Cigna Global) do not issue physical dental identification (ID) cards. You can download an electronic card from your Dental Plan administrator’s website or mobile app. If your dental provider requests verification of coverage, please have the provider contact your Dental Plan administrator.