Delta Dental: Is this legal? Surprise billing? Deceiving?

Several months ago my dentist sent a letter explaining that they were switching from “Delta Dental PPO” to “Delta Dental Premier” and that this would alter my out of pocket expenses. I logged in to the Delta Dental web site to look at the benefit levels and saw that my coinsurance would be increased and equal to “Out of Network” (shown here in screen shot). Not shown is all three columns are the same for deductible and max benefit, etc. So I expected my coinsurance to go up, but I had felt that there must be some implied difference between “Premier” and “Out of Network”. I felt this implied that “Premier” would be “in-network” and have negotiated rates. I don’t see anything explaining otherwise.

What I did not expect was balance billing that would result in out of pocket and non-covered expenses identical to if they were “Out of Network”. In fact, when I called Delta Dental they referred to the dentist as “Out of Network”. I said I thought they were “Delta Dental Premier” and she told me they meant the same thing.

Can they do that??

E: Oh also, I just found out today before my appointment tomorrow that Delta Dental terminated my coverage several weeks ago with no notice and for no reason. Apparently that’s been a problem for other people too.

https://postimg.cc/v100ynPJ

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