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Dental plans · NCD by MetLife

Compare NCD Elite 1500, 3000 & 5000

Three dental plans on MetLife's PDP Plus network with the same benefits and different yearly maximums: $1,500, $3,000, or $5,000 per person. Cleanings pay 100% and fillings 80% from your first day. Major work pays 50% from year 2, and implants are covered from year 3.

Based on NCD's May 2026 product overviews · Updated October 2026

Fillings at 80% from day one See any dentist Underwritten by MetLife
Please read: these are dental insurance plans with yearly maximums, provided by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Major work pays only 10% in your first year, and implants aren't covered until year 3. The certificate lists all covered services, frequency limits, and exclusions.
Where these plans are available

NCD plans are sold in most states, but not all, and prices vary by state. NCD doesn't publish a state list, so call NCD Member Care at 800-485-3855 or ask me, and I'll confirm what's available where you live. In New York and Connecticut, major work has a 12-month waiting period.

NCD Elite 1500

$1,500 max

A good fit if you want cleanings and fillings well covered from day one, at the lowest Elite cost.

  • Up to $1,500 a year, including up to $750 for implants
  • $50 deductible a year ($150 per family), for basic and major work only
  • Cleanings, exams, and bitewing X-rays at 100%
  • Fillings and simple extractions at 80% from day one
  • Major work pays 10% in year 1, then 50%

Good to know: a crown or two can use up most of a $1,500 maximum in a single year.

NCD Elite 3000

$3,000 max

A good fit if you expect a crown, bridge, or root canal and want room under the maximum.

  • Up to $3,000 a year, including up to $1,500 for implants
  • $50 deductible a year ($150 per family), for basic and major work only
  • Cleanings, exams, and bitewing X-rays at 100%
  • Fillings and simple extractions at 80% from day one
  • Major work pays 10% in year 1, then 50%

Good to know: major work pays only 10% in your first year, so big jobs are best planned for year 2 or later.

NCD Elite 5000

$5,000 max

A good fit if you expect a lot of dental work, or an implant, over the next few years.

  • Up to $5,000 a year, including up to $2,500 for implants
  • $50 deductible a year ($150 per family), for basic and major work only
  • Cleanings, exams, and bitewing X-rays at 100%
  • Fillings and simple extractions at 80% from day one
  • Major work pays 10% in year 1, then 50%

Good to know: implants are covered from year 3 and pay 50%, so a $4,000 implant pays $2,000.

Which plan fits you?

You mainly need cleanings, checkups, and fillingsNCD Elite 1500
You might need a crown, root canal, or bridgeNCD Elite 3000
You expect a lot of dental workNCD Elite 5000
You're planning an implant in a few yearsNCD Elite 5000
You want white fillings on back teeth coveredAny Elite plan
You need major work in the next few monthsLet's talk timing
You want 3 cleanings a yearNCD Complete or Essentials
You want a maximum above $5,000NCD Complete ($10,000)
You need bracesNot covered on Elite
How the plans pay

What a visit looks like

The first three examples are the same on every Elite plan; the implant pays differently on each. They use example in-network fees; actual costs vary by dentist and area. In network, the dentist accepts MetLife's negotiated fee as payment in full.

Any Elite plan · any year

Checkup and cleaning

An exam, a cleaning, and bitewing X-rays.

  • Plan pays100%
  • DeductibleDoesn't apply
You pay$0
Any Elite plan · year 1 · example fee $150

A filling

Your first filling of the year. White fillings on back teeth count too.

  • Your $50 deductible$50
  • Plan pays 80% of $100$80
  • Your 20%$20
You pay$70
Any Elite plan · year 2 · example fee $1,100

A crown

Your deductible was already met this year.

  • Plan pays 50%$550
  • Your 50%$550
You pay$550

In year 1, the plan would pay just 10%.

NCD Elite 1500 · year 3 · example fee $4,000

An implant

Implants pay 50%, up to $750 a year on this plan. Deductible already met.

  • 50% would be$2,000
  • Plan pays, at the $750 limit$750
You pay$3,250
NCD Elite 3000 · year 3 · example fee $4,000

An implant

Implants pay 50%, up to $1,500 a year on this plan. Deductible already met.

  • 50% would be$2,000
  • Plan pays, at the $1,500 limit$1,500
You pay$2,500
NCD Elite 5000 · year 3 · example fee $4,000

An implant

Implants pay 50%, up to $2,500 a year on this plan. Deductible already met.

  • Plan pays 50%$2,000
  • Your 50%$2,000
You pay$2,000

Not available for a tooth that was already missing before your coverage started.

All benefits

Every benefit, every plan

Not covered Not a covered benefit Percentages are what the plan pays, in or out of network.

Rotate your phone for a better view of this table.

Benefit NCD Elite 1500 NCD Elite 3000 NCD Elite 5000
Yearly maximum $1,500 $3,000 $5,000
Common questions

Questions people ask

Straight answers about how these plans work. Tap a question to open it.

Is there a waiting period?

Not for most care. Preventive, basic, and major work are payable from your first day, with two exceptions: implants are covered from year 3, and in New York and Connecticut, major work has a 12-month waiting period.

Why does major work pay 10% in year 1?

Instead of a waiting period, major work like crowns, root canals, bridges, and dentures pays 10% in your first year and 50% from year 2 on. Preventive and basic care don't change: 100% and 80% from day one. If you know you'll need big work, the timing matters, and I can help you plan it.

How do implants work on Elite?

From year 3, implants are covered as major work at 50%, up to a yearly implant limit: $750 on Elite 1500, $1,500 on Elite 3000, and $2,500 on Elite 5000. That amount counts toward your yearly maximum. Implants are limited to 1 per tooth position every 5 years, and can't replace a tooth that was already missing before your coverage started, unless it was congenitally missing.

How does the deductible work?

It's $50 per person each calendar year, and no more than $150 for a family. It applies only to basic and major work. Cleanings, checkups, and bitewing X-rays never have a deductible.

Can I see any dentist?

Yes. The plan pays the same percentages in or out of network. In MetLife's PDP Plus network, the dentist accepts MetLife's negotiated fee as payment in full. Out of network, MetLife pays based on its maximum allowable charge, and the dentist can bill you the difference. Find a PDP Plus dentist.

Are white fillings on back teeth covered?

Yes. Tooth-colored (composite) fillings are covered on every tooth, including molars, at 80% as basic care.

How is Elite different from NCD Complete?

Complete has a higher maximum ($10,000, with up to $3,000 for implants), a $100 deductible you pay once for life, and 3 cleanings a year, and its major work rises to 60% from year 3. Elite pays basic care at 80% from day one, where Complete starts at 65%. Compare Complete, Essentials & Value, or ask me which costs less where you live.

Can I replace a tooth I lost before the plan started?

Generally no. Dentures or implant-supported teeth to replace teeth that were missing before your coverage started aren't covered, except for teeth that were missing from birth.

Are braces or night guards covered?

No. Orthodontics, night guards, and treatment for teeth grinding aren't covered on any Elite plan. Jaw (TMJ) treatment isn't covered either, except in Minnesota.

How do I see my ID card and benefits?

Log in to the NCD member portal at members.ncd.com to see your benefits, download ID cards, update your contact information, and change your payment method. NCD Member Care: 800-485-3855, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central.

Does accidental damage to my teeth count?

No. Dental work after an accidental injury isn't covered, except for damage from chewing or biting food.

Questions? Let's talk

Not sure which plan fits? I'll walk you through it.

I'm Hamon R. Burkhardt, a licensed Health & Life insurance broker. I'll help you pick a maximum based on the dental work you expect, plan the timing of bigger work, and check that your dentist is in network. No pressure, no fine print.

What counts as each service

Preventive (Type A): exams, cleanings, bitewing X-rays, and fluoride for children under 14. Basic (Type B): fillings (including white fillings on molars), simple extractions, full-mouth and other X-rays, sealants and space maintainers for children under 14, emergency pain treatment, and lab tests. Major (Type C): consultations, root canals, gum maintenance cleanings, deep cleanings and gum surgery, crowns, inlays and onlays, bridges, dentures, repairs, surgical extractions and other oral surgery, general anesthesia, and implants (from year 3).

What these plans don't cover

  • Orthodontics (braces)
  • Night guards and treatment for teeth grinding
  • Jaw (TMJ) treatment, except in Minnesota
  • Cosmetic dentistry
  • Replacing teeth missing before coverage started
  • Dental work after an accidental injury, except from chewing food
  • Replacing lost or stolen appliances or dentures

This is a summary. The certificate lists all exclusions and limitations.

How out-of-network pay works

In network, dentists accept MetLife's negotiated fees as payment in full, subject to your deductible and share. Out of network, MetLife pays based on the lesser of the dentist's fee or its scheduled maximum allowable charge, so you may owe more.

About this guide

This guide summarizes NCD's product overviews for NCD Elite 1500, NCD Elite 3000, and NCD Elite 5000. Group dental plans featuring the Preferred Dentist Program are provided by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY. It was prepared by Hamon R. Burkhardt, licensed Health & Life insurance broker (NPN 16713594), and is not an official NCD or MetLife document. It is not a contract. The certificate decides what is covered. Products are not available in all states. © 2026 helpmehamon!