📄 MetLife Changes Recoupment Policy After ADA Pushback— Why It Matters to You
If you’ve ever gotten a confusing bill from your dentist—or been told your insurance changed its mind about paying—you’re not alone. A recent change by MetLife, one of the largest dental insurers, highlights why keeping up with insurance policies matters not just for dental offices, but for patients like you.
What happened?
Until recently, MetLife had a troubling practice: when they made a payment error to one dentist, they were taking money back from another dentist in the same office—even if that person did nothing wrong.
This type of “recoupment” created problems for many dental professionals. Imagine doing your job correctly, but losing part of your paycheck because of someone else’s mistake. That’s what some dentists were dealing with.
Why patients should care
While this might sound like an insurance company problem, here’s how it could affect you as a patient:
Billing confusion: If money is suddenly taken from your provider, they may try to re-bill the insurance—or you.
Delays in care: Dentists may pause or delay services while sorting out payment errors.
Stressful surprises: You might receive unexpected balance notices or unclear bills due to incorrect recoupment.
It’s not just an administrative issue—it impacts how smoothly your dental care experience goes.
How the ADA helped fix it
In April 2025, the American Dental Association (ADA) sent a letter to MetLife calling out this unfair practice. They reminded the insurer that:
Dentists have individual contracts and shouldn’t be held responsible for another dentist’s billing mistake.
In some states, this kind of recoupment is actually illegal (ADA News, 2025).
MetLife responded in June, agreeing to change their policy. From now on, only the specific provider who received the overpayment will be subject to recoupment—not their colleagues.
The company is updating its systems and expects changes to be fully implemented by the end of 2025.
Why this matters for dental insurance users
At Savvy Smiles Consulting, we help people make sense of their dental plans and avoid costly insurance surprises. This MetLife update is a win for fairness—and a reminder that:
Insurance policies can change (and often without much notice).
Mistakes by insurers can still affect your pocket or treatment.
Having a knowledgeable advocate on your side can make a big difference.
If you’ve ever been confused by a dental EOB (Explanation of Benefits) or asked to pay more than you expected, we’re here to help.
Need help understanding your dental benefits?
Click here to book a consultation with Savvy Smiles Consulting and we’ll break down your plan clearly—no jargon, just facts.
Sources:
ADA News. (2025, July 12). MetLife agrees to change recoupment policy following ADA letter. https://adanews.ada.org
American Dental Association. (2025). ADA letter to MetLife regarding inappropriate recoupment practices.
State insurance laws regarding recoupment. (Referenced in ADA communications)