Dental for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
Open Enrollment is Sept. 14 – Oct. 09, 2026
If you are a qualified COBRA beneficiary, you may change your dental plan and add or delete dependents during Open Enrollment. No action is required if you do not want to make any changes. All requested changes will be effective Jan. 1, 2027.
Note: The Open Enrollment period will not extend your maximum 18 or 36 months of COBRA continuation coverage.
STATE-SPONSORED DENTAL PLANS AND UPDATES
The state contracts with the plans listed below to provide dental insurance to COBRA enrollees. You may contact the dental plans for a brochure or list of participating dentists at the phone numbers or website addresses listed in the Dental Plan Options below.
STATE-SPONSORED DENTAL PLAN COBRA PREMIUM INFORMATION
- Delta Dental PPO Premium and Essential
- Delta Dental Preferred Provider Option (Delta Dental PPO)
- MetLife PPO Core and Plus
- DeltaCare USA
- MetLife Select HMO*
- Premier Access
- Western Dental
Dental Enrollment Form
If you plan to make a change, please complete the Dental Plan Enrollment Authorization form (STD. 692) and mail it to the corresponding dental carrier’s COBRA unit listed in the Dental Plan Options. Mailed forms must be postmarked by Oct. 09, 2026.
Dental Plan Options
The following plan descriptions are provided to assist you in selecting a dental plan. Please consult each dental plan’s Evidence of Coverage available on their websites for detailed information and plan limitations.
Prepaid (DHMO) Dental Plans
DeltaCare USA, MetLife Select[1], Premier Access and Western Dental provide dental services through member/participating dentists throughout California. Dental implant services are offered by Premier Access and Western Dental only. All prepaid (DHMO) dental plans have continuation of orthodontic care if you decide to change dental plans while orthodontic treatment is in progress.
You have the option to enroll with a participating dentist of your choice or you will be assigned to a dental provider by the dental plan. You may change dentists upon request and/or change dental plans if you move and there is no prepaid dental provider in your area. The state-sponsored prepaid dental plans are not available outside of California.
Enrollees in these plans have no maximum annual benefit limits. Many services are provided at minimal or no cost to you. Before you enroll in a prepaid plan, first check with the plan to make sure there are contrcted dentists in your area.
Please note that the MetLife Enhanced plan is not available for represented employees.
Indemnity and PPO Dental Plans
Delta Dental and MetLife offer PPO and Indemnity dental plans as well: The plans are briefly summarized below.
Indemnity Plans
The indemnity dental plans provides access to comprehensive general and specialty dental care through a broad network of participating dentists, with guaranteed benefits when you use an in-network provider. Your current dentist may already participate in the Delta Dental PPO or Delta Dental PPO plus Premier network.
Choosing an in-network dentist can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs. While you may receive dental services from an out-of-network provider, your out-of-pocket expenses will generally be higher, your annual maximum benefit may be lower, and a smaller percentage of the dentist’s billed charges may be covered.
You may receive covered dental services from any licensed dentist in the United States or abroad. However, using a dentist who does not participate in the Delta Dental network may result in higher costs.
Preferred Provider Option (PPO) Plans
PPO dental plans provide higher benefit levels for you and your eligible dependents when you receive services from an in-network Delta Dental PPO provider. Your out-of-pocket costs are based on the negotiated fees established between Delta Dental and participating PPO dentists, resulting in lower costs when you use an in-network provider. Participating PPO dentists submit treatment authorizations and claims directly to Delta Dental on your behalf.
You may receive covered dental services from any licensed dentist in the United States or abroad. However, if you choose an out-of-network provider, your benefits will generally be lower, and you will be responsible for higher out-of-pocket costs. Reimbursement for services provided by a non-participating dentist is generally paid directly to you.
Before enrolling in a PPO plan, verify that participating Delta Dental PPO providers are available in your area to help maximize your benefits and minimize your out-of-pocket costs.
COBRA Carrier Contact Information for State-Sponsored Dental Plans
Delta Dental of California/ DeltaCare USA
Isolved Benefit Services – Enrollment Form Submission
P.O. Box 537011
Sacramento, CA 95853-7011
Support for COBRA enrolled members:
Participants: (800) 594-6957
Employers: (866) 594-6957
Email: IsolvedCobra@delta.org
www.deltadentalins.com/state
MetLife[2]
MetLife Benefits
ATTN: SOC COBRA Billing
P.O. Box 13724
Philadelphia, PA 19101-3724
Benefit questions: (800) 880-1800
Billing questions: (949) 471-2222
www.metlife.com/safeguard/soc-benefits/
Premier Access
8890 Cal Center Drive
Sacramento, CA 95826
(888) 534-3466
www.socdhmo.com
Western Dental
ATTN: Group Services Department
530 South Main Street
Orange, CA 92868
(866) 859-7525
COBRA Group Continuation Coverage for Dental Plan Premiums
Premiums are 102% of current total premiums.
COBRA PREMIUM PAYMENTS
Payment of monthly COBRA premiums must be made directly to the plan timely. Failure to pay timely, will result in the termination of your continuation coverage.
CHANGES OUTSIDE OF OPEN ENROLLMENT
If you have a permitting event such as a change in family status during the year (e.g., marriage, domestic partnership, or newly eligible dependents), you may make an enrollment change outside of the Open Enrollment period. For dental plan changes, please contact the dental carrier directly.
For more information about the state’s dental plans, you may visit the CalHR Benefits website. For questions about enrollment or how to make changes to your current dental coverage during the Open Enrollment period, please email CalHR at cobra@calhr.ca.gov.
