Delta Dental vs MetLife

McCall Martin
McCall Martin | Senior Editor

Both MetLife and Delta Dental are trusted insurers, which makes them good choices for buying dental insurance, whether you are an employer creating a benefits package or buying dental insurance for yourself or your family. MetLife stands out for its focus on group plans and offerings for veterans and retired military and federal employees. Delta Dental stands out because it offers more distinct plan options for individuals and families.

Delta Dental logo
#1 Delta Dental
6.7 Overall Score
4.0
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(227)
MetLife logo
#5 MetLife
4.7 Overall Score
3.9
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(86)

Overview

Delta Dental

Plans Available

N/A

Customer Service Options

N/A

Time in Business

Undisclosed

MetLife

N/A

N/A

Undisclosed

Ratings

Delta Dental

Overall Score
6.7 of 10
Review Score
4.0
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Value for Money
3.7
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Quality of Product or Service
3.9
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Company Trustworthiness
3.9
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Likely to Recommend
7.2 of 10

MetLife

4.7 of 10
3.9
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3.9
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3.8
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3.9
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6.7 of 10

Reviews

Delta Dental

Number of Reviews
227
Review Breakdown
4.0
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1 star
10%
2 star
5%
3 star
12%
4 star
28%
5 star
45%

MetLife

86
3.9
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1 star
14%
2 star
6%
3 star
9%
4 star
22%
5 star
49%

Reviews for Delta Dental

Helpful Favorable Review

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Jasmin Mena

February 14th, 2023

Used Delta once in a different state through my husband's insurance for a basic check-up. Was able to find a very nice dentist and they went through everything carefully and explained my situation with patience. Everything was straight-forward.

Helpful Critical Review

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Leo Russ

February 23rd, 2023

DETAILS

Refused to cover an implant on the grounds that they "do not have a record of extraction and, therefore, it's a defect the patient was born with." They even supplied a conclusion from a "doctor", someone who doesn't know that if the tooth has never existed, the adjacent teeth would move/expand, and the gap would close which would not allow to install an implant. Crooks.

Reviews for MetLife

Helpful Favorable Review

star star star star star

jamee emens

August 1st, 2022

DETAILS

We have never experienced one problem. Our family has had ortho work, crowns, bridges, wisdom teeth extractions, etc. The claims are paid quickly, and I never speak to one person. The dentist's office handles it all.

Helpful Critical Review

star star_border star_border star_border star_border

judJ Roller

April 25th, 2023

DETAILS

You cannot rely on their dental plan to meet its obligations. For example, they say they cover crowns 50%. They don't. They cover SOME crowns. If you get a cavity under a crown or it has broken and replacing it is a medical necessity, they won't cover any of it unless the original crown is more than TEN YEARS old--the customary requirement is FIVE years. Dropping this coverage like a hot rock as soon as I can and replacing it with a dental savings plan.

The Final Word

Delta Dental offers four plan options that individuals and families can buy. Since each plan is different, you can choose the plan that best meets your coverage needs. In addition to more typical insurance plans, Delta Dental offers fee-for-service and dental discount plans. 

MetLife only offers one dental plan for individuals and families buying their own insurance. However, this plan comes with three options that offer different levels of coverage.

MetLife also offers dental plans specifically for veterans. If you're a veteran, you can purchase this plan for yourself and your dependents. MetLife offers a Federal Dental plan to federal employees and military retirees. This plan is also a great option if you've retired from the military.

Delta Dental and MetLife both offer group dental plans. Delta Dental's group plans vary by state, so you'll have to research further to learn more about what's available to you and cost. MetLife offers managed care dental plans and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans. Managed care dental plans only offer in-network coverage. PPO plans offer in-and out-of-network plans.

While both companies offer great options for individuals and families, Delta Dental has more options. This selection makes it easier to find a plan that fits your budget and meets your coverage needs. MetLife is a good option for veterans and military retirees for its plans designed specifically for veterans and retired military.

While both companies offer group dental insurance, MetLife specializes in group plans. This specialization makes it a great choice for employers.

Top Choice

Delta Dental Logo
Delta Dental

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