The Harvard-sponsored dental plan will change to MetLife Dental as of January 1, 2023.

If you are currently enrolled in the Harvard-sponsored dental plan, you do not need to do anything. You will automatically transfer to the MetLife Dental plan at your current coverage level (individual, individual plus spouse, family, etc.) as of January 1, 2023.

Yes. MetLife will mail ID cards to all participants in late-December (note: cards for enrolled dependents will be in the subscriber’s name). Although you do not need to present an ID card to confirm that you are eligible, you should notify your dentist that, as of January 1, 2023, you are enrolled in a MetLife Dental plan featuring the PDP Plus Network. Your dentist can easily verify information about your coverage through an automated Computer Voice Response system by calling 1-877-MET-DDS9 (1-877-638-3379).

MetLife Dental currently uses the subscriber’s Social Security number (SSN) as the dental insurance member ID number for subscriber’s and their enrolled dependents. The University chose not to have this printed on the ID cards.

You will need to provide the subscriber’s Social Security or the first 8 digits of the subscriber’s Harvard University ID (HUID). Your provider will need one of these to confirm your benefits and submit claims on your behalf. NOTE: The ID number will be the same for both the subscriber and their enrolled dependents.

You can make changes to your coverage (enrolling, canceling, adding eligible dependents, etc.) during the Annual Open Enrollment period (October 25 through November 3, 2022). Changes will be effective January 1, 2023.

If you miss the annual Open Enrollment period, you cannot make changes to your dental coverage unless you are within 30 days of a qualified life event such as marriage, birth or adoption of a child, loss of other dental coverage, etc. Go to HARVie for more information.

You can check by going to MetLife Find a Dentist and/or asking your dentist if they are part of the MetLife Dental PDP Network.

Yes. If your dentist is interested in applying to the PDP Network, ask them to visit metdental.com, or call 1-866-PDP-NTWK (1-866-737-6895) for an application. The website and phone number are for use by dental professionals only.

The Harvard-sponsored MetLife Dental plan covers eligible services provided by out-of-network dentists. Most dentists will file claims with MetLife on your behalf. However, in some instances, you may have to pay the provider and file for reimbursement. Visit the Plan Benefits page for more information including a plan summary.

Yes, up to the lifetime maximum for your plan. Effective January 1, 2023, adult orthodontia is also covered (currently available only to children under age 19).

Visit the Plan Benefits page for lifetime maximums.

There are some enhancements and changes effective January 1, 2023:

• Orthodontia coverage for dependent children and adults (currently only covers children under age 19)
• Sealant coverage for members aged 16 through 18 without the requirement of recent cavity and risk for decay (currently only covered with recent cavity and risk for decay)
• Coverage of general anesthesia and IV sedation based on dental and medical necessity (currently only covered for surgical removal of impacted teeth)
• Bone grafts covered based on medical necessity (currently limited to medical necessity but no more than two per quadrant)
• Dental implants covered based on medical necessity (currently have additional restrictions)
• Bitewing x-rays limited to once per year for adults (currently once per six months. Will continue to be once per six months for children under age 19). This aligns with industry guidelines to help reduce overexposure to radiation
• Prosthodontics covered once every 84 months (currently once every 60 months). Current literature indicates these services should last beyond 10 years

No. Lifetime maximums and plan limit (ex. lifetime maximum for orthodontia, fillings once every 24 months per tooth, etc.) information will carry over to MetLife Dental.

No. Orthodontia benefits received through your previous coverage will count towards the lifetime maximum benefit under your coverage with MetLife. 
If you have exhausted the Orthodontia lifetime maximum benefit under your previous plan, you will not have additional orthodontia benefits under the MetLife Dental plan.

Example 1

Your Harvard-sponsored dental plan has a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum. As of December 31, 2022, your child has received $1,500 of orthodontia benefits through Delta Dental. Your child will not be eligible for additional orthodontia benefits through MetLife Dental. However, if the provider is a MetLife PDP Plus Network provider, you cannot be billed more than the MetLife negotiated rates for the ongoing treatment.

Example 2

Your Harvard-sponsored dental plan has a $1,500 orthodontia lifetime maximum. As of December 31, 2022, your child received $1,000 of orthodontia benefits through Delta Dental. Effective January 1, 2023, your child is eligible for $500 of orthodontia coverage through MetLife Dental.

Crowns have a coverage limit of once within 84 months per tooth. If you had the crown procedure within 84 months, the replacement would not be covered. If it has been more than 84 months, it may be covered. It is recommended your provider request a pre-treatment estimate.

This will depend on the service:

Endodontic Treatment

• Root Canal - A tooth opened prior to but completed on or after January 1, 2023 will be covered under the MetLife Dental plan, provided it meets coverage requirements.

Prosthodontic Treatments

• Crowns and Bridgework – Preparation and impressions started prior to but placed on or after January 1, 2023 will be covered under the MetLife Dental plan, provided it meets coverage requirements.
• Partial or Full Dentures – Final impressions completed prior to but delivered on or after January 1, 2023 will be considered eligible expenses under the MetLife Dental plan subject to MetLife plan frequency limitations.

Orthodontia Treatment

• Coverage will continue uninterrupted, subject to the orthodontia lifetime maximum benefits. Delta Dental will cover payments through December 31, 2022. MetLife will cover eligible payments as of January 1, 2023.

Yes. We recommend you request a pre-treatment estimate for services totaling more than $300. Have your dentist submit a request online at metdental.com or by calling 1-877-MET-DDS9 (1-877-638-3379). Actual payments and out-of-pocket costs may vary from the pre-treatment estimate depending upon plan maximums, deductibles, frequency limits and other conditions at time of payment. 

Yes, if the dental work is completed by an in-network MetLife PDP Plus provider, the fee your provider charges for covered services will be limited to the MetLife PDP Plus Network negotiated fee, even if you exceed your annual maximum, or your lifetime maximum for ortho services.

Yes, if the dental work is completed by an in-network MetLife PDP Plus provider, the dentist cannot charge more than the negotiated fee for the service, even if the service is not a covered service.

Network dentists and most non-network dentists will submit claims for you, which means you will have little or no paperwork. You can track your claims online via MyBenefits, MetLife’s member portal. You can sign up for email alerts, so you know when a claim has been processed. If you need a claim form, visit the MyBenefits documents page, or call MetLife at 1-855-638-3941.

No. You just need the one account/login. As of January 1, 2023, you will see MetLife Dental under your plans when you login to your MyBenefits account.

Yes. You and your dependents will be covered at the out-of-network level for services received outside the United States. You can use MetLife’s International Dental Travel Assistance program to be connected to a multilingual assistance coordinator who will gather the necessary information to refer you to a local dentist. You are automatically enrolled in this program and simply call collect +1(312)356-5970 for assistance. You will need to pay for the services and file for reimbursement. Please remember to hold on to all receipts to submit a dental claim. To get information on your out-of-network benefits and download a claim form please visit the MyBenefits portal, or the Resources page.

If you do not want to provide your SSN or HUID you may provide the following information to MetLife or your provider to verify your dental coverage:

• First name
• Last name
• Date of Birth
• Home address
• Employer Name (Harvard University)

Note: Your provider will need either your SSN or HUID to submit a claim electronically to MetLife. Without one of these identifiers, they will need to submit a paper claim that includes your First & Last name, date of birth, group number, and home address. Processing paper claims takes longer than electronically submitted claims.

You can access the MetLife portal by going to HARVIE: hr.harvard.edu/dental. There you will find a link on the right hand side of the page that leads you to the MetLife Portal. Here you will be prompted to sign in with your Harvard Key information.* Once signed in you will have access to all the features of the MetLife Portal, including:

• Summaries of your MetLife accounts (dental, life insurance, and/or legal)
• Listing of claims
• An extensive library of educational articles and tools designed to support your oral health
• Your Dental ID card (under Documents)

Alternatively, you can access the portal by going to MetLife Portal and creating a separate login. Employees can use either their SSN or HUID when registering directly on the MetLife Portal.

*If you are recently signed into HarvardKey when you click on the MetLife Portal link, you will automatically be logged into the Portal.

It is best to access the MetLife portal by using Firefox or Safari. You may experience issues if using Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. If you still have issues accessing the portal, you should contact MetLife directly for assistance

If the Find a Provider search results do not display properly (disproportionate icons, no filtering options, etc.), you may need to clear the browser’s cache (typically found under the browser settings). If the browser gives you the option to select a time frame for clearing the cache, select All Time. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, please try another browser. If you continue to have issues, contact MetLife.

No. Using a participant’s SSN as an individual identifier behind the scenes is standard in the health care industry. It is covered under HIPAA and will not be used for any purpose other than to administer your benefits.

Under the Harvard-sponsored active employee MetLife Dental plans, orthodontia is covered at 50% coinsurance up to a lifetime benefit maximum of $2,000 per covered individual under the faculty and non-union plan, and up to $1,500 for those covered under the union plan. After the lifetime benefit maximum is reached, you are responsible for paying the remainder of the balance. Orthodontia is not covered on the retiree dental plans.

The orthodontia lifetime benefit maximum on the dental plans is on a per individual basis. For example, if you have three family members receiving orthodontic services, each of them will have their own lifetime benefit maximum amount.

While orthodontic services are still covered at 50% (up to the lifetime maximum) for out-of-network providers, you may have to pay the cost of care upfront and file for reimbursement through MetLife. During your course of treatment, claims submitted to MetLife will be reimbursed in quarterly installments. If your claims are submitted after your course of treatment, reimbursements will be issued in a single payment.

There are a few states - New Mexico, Hawaii, and Minnesota - that allow providers to charge tax on services. These taxes are not covered under the dental plan.

Effective January 1, 2024, we assigned you a unique identifying number which will be included on your ID cards. You can use this number instead of the subscriber’s Social Security number when submitting dental claims or pre-treatment estimates, or when contacting MetLife about your benefits.

When you log onto MetLife’s MyBenefits site, you can use this unique MetLife Dental ID number, or you can use the subscriber’s Harvard employee ID number. If you already have a login prior to January 1,2024, you can log in as you normally have.

If you need additional cards, please go to metlife.com/mybenefits to print them out at your convenience. Please note that dependents will have the same ID number as the subscriber.