Types of Dental Coverage
Coverage for Metro dental benefits will be provided by Delta Dental Plan of Tennessee. Delta Dental offers two plan options:
- Preferred Plan — pays benefits for in-network care only
- Premier Plan — pays benefits for in-network or out-of-network care
Delta's plan names are similar looking and sounding. The Preferred Plan is like an HMO (paying benefits only if you stay in the network of “preferred” dentists), while the Premier Plan is like a PPO, paying benefits either way (but higher if you stay in network).
Preferred Plan
Under the Preferred Plan, you do not have to choose a primary care dentist. You may visit any participating Preferred Plan dentist without prior approval or referrals. However, you must visit a Preferred Plan dentist or you will not receive benefits.
The Preferred Plan offers these advantages:
- No maximum annual benefit — The Preferred Plan has no annual limit on plan benefits (unlike the Premier Plan). This feature can create substantial savings if you require extensive dental work.
- No coinsurance or deductibles — Under the Preferred Plan, you pay no coinsurance or deductibles, just copayments. You know your share of the cost in advance. And, most preventive services are covered at 100%.
- No claims forms to file — There is no paperwork for you. You simply pay your copayment at the time of service and the plan pays the rest.