Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. MetLife will mail ID cards to all participants when entering into a Dental plan 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. 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).

You will need to provide the subscriber’s MetLife Generated ID number 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 MetLife Generated 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.

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. Adult orthodontia is also covered (currently available only to children under age 19).

Visit the Plan Benefits page for lifetime maximums.

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.

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.

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.

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 MetLife Generated ID number 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.

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.

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.