MetLife Dental Fee Schedule 2026: Rate Changes, CDT Code Updates, and What to Do

MetLife Dental updated its PDP and PDP Plus fee schedules effective January 1, 2026. The changes affect both preventive and restorative procedure codes, with some markets seeing reductions in high-volume codes while others held steady. Here's a plain-English breakdown of what changed and what practices should do before the renegotiation window closes.

MetLife's Two PPO Plan Structures

MetLife operates two primary dental PPO networks that affect in-network providers differently. Understanding which plan your patients carry determines which fee schedule applies to their claims.

MetLife PDP (Preferred Dentist Program)

The core MetLife PPO network. Most employer-sponsored MetLife dental plans use PDP. Fee schedules are set at the regional level and updated annually. PDP reimbursement rates are generally more favorable than PDP Plus.

MetLife PDP Plus

A secondary network often layered on top of PDP for large employer groups. PDP Plus typically carries lower reimbursement rates than core PDP but provides access to a larger pool of covered patients. Practices are enrolled in PDP Plus through their core PDP participation unless they opt out.

2026 Rate Changes — Key Procedure Codes

CDT Code	Description	PDP Change	PDP Plus Change
D0120	Periodic Oral Evaluation	No change	▼ −2.1%
D0210	Full Mouth X-Rays	▲ +1.4%	No change
D1110	Adult Prophylaxis	▼ −3.2%	▼ −4.8%
D2740	Crown — Porcelain/Ceramic	No change	▼ −1.9%
D4341	Periodontal Scaling (per quad)	▲ +2.3%	▲ +1.1%
D7140	Extraction — Erupted Tooth	No change	No change

The Federal Employee Dental Plan Factor

MetLife administers the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) dental plan, which operates on a separate fee schedule from the commercial PDP network. If you serve federal employees, the FEDVIP fee schedule is distinct from your PDP rates and has its own update cycle. FEDVIP rates for 2026 were updated in October 2025 with the new plan year. Verify your FEDVIP rates separately from your commercial MetLife rates.

MetLife's Renegotiation Process

MetLife's fee schedule negotiation process is more structured than many carriers. Key details for 2026:

• Request window: MetLife typically processes fee schedule review requests submitted between April and July for implementation in the following plan year (January 2027)
• Data requirements: MetLife requests production data (annual charges and collections) for MetLife patients specifically, your UCR fee schedule, and fees from your other major contracted carriers for comparison
• Volume threshold: Practices with higher MetLife patient volume generally receive more favorable consideration. Practices billing fewer than $60,000 annually to MetLife patients may have limited negotiating leverage
• Contact: Reach MetLife provider relations through the provider portal at metdental.com or call the provider services line on your remittance advice

What to Do Before the Window Closes

1. Pull your MetLife production report from your practice management software — total annual production and collections, broken down by PDP vs PDP Plus if possible
2. Calculate your write-off percentage for each MetLife network. If PDP Plus write-offs exceed 35%, a fee review request is warranted
3. Confirm your network enrollment — verify whether you're enrolled in PDP, PDP Plus, or both, and whether FEDVIP enrollment applies
4. Submit a fee review request by July if your data supports it, to have any negotiated rate improvements take effect January 2027

Rate changes shown reflect publicly available guidance and subscriber-reported intelligence as of April 2026. Actual contracted rates vary by market and individual provider agreement. Always verify current rates directly through the MetLife provider portal. This article is for informational purposes only.