The TDP is a voluntary dental insurance program that is available
to eligible Active Duty family members, Selected Reserve and Individual Ready
Reserve (IRR) members, and their eligible family members. The TRICARE Retiree
Dental Program is a separate program.*
Dental
Coverage:
The TDP covers a wide range of diagnostic,
preventive and restorative services dental X-rays, examinations, cleaning,
fluoride applications, sealants, fillings, root canals, crowns,
etc.
Benefit package includes general anesthesia coverage
when provided in connection with a covered benefit. Dentists or other
professional providers must be licensed and approved to provide anesthesia in
the state where the service is rendered.
Maximum annual benefit
coverage is $1,200 for all routine dental care. The maximum lifetime orthodontic
benefit coverage is $1,500.
Enlisted members in pay grades
E-1 to E-4 have reduced cost-shares for certain
procedures.
Eligibility: Family members of all active-duty uniformed
services members, Selected Reserve (SELRES) and Individual Ready Reserve (IRR)
members and/or their families may enroll in the TRICARE Dental Program. Sponsors
must have at least 12 months remaining of their service commitments at the time
they or their families enroll. The 12-month enrollment commitment is waived for
families of Reservists called to active duty for certain contingency
operations.
Eligibility is determined based on
the service member s military personnel information residing in the Defense
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). The uniformed services
personnel office reports the information to
DEERS.
Active duty personnel are not eligible
for the TRICARE Dental Program. They receive dental care from military dental
treatment facilities. Reservists who are ordered to active duty for a period of
more than 30 consecutive days have the same benefits as active-duty service
members. * Additional information pertaining to reservists and their
families can be found in the Medical and Dental Care Component Members and their
Families Fact Sheet.
Former spouses, parents,
parents-in-law, disabled veterans, foreign military personnel, and uniformed
services retirees and their families are not eligible for the TRICARE Dental
Program.
Enrollment: Enrollment in the TDP is handled by United
Concordia Companies, Inc. (UCCI), the TDP contract administrator.
Enrollment/Change applications are available by calling UCCI at 1-888-622-2256.
Online enrollment is available at the link above
right.
The enrollment application must be
received by UCCI not later than the 20th day of the month for coverage to begin
on the first day of the next month. UCCI is required to complete the enrollment
process online real-time to the DEERS database. If UCCI receives the application
after the 20th day of the month, coverage may not begin for two months.
Incorrect eligibility information being provided to DEERS will cause
applications to be denied. Enrollment options are available at the link above
right.
Once enrolled, members must stay in the
TRICARE Dental Program for at least 12 months (with certain exceptions, such as
loss of DEERS eligibility because of divorce, marriage of a child, end of
contingency activation, etc.). After 12 month's, enrollment continues on a
month-to-month basis. The first months premium is due upon enrollment. The
premium amount is shown on the enrollment form. After the first month, monthly
premiums may be paid by payroll allotment, or, in some cases, be billed directly
to the member by UCCI.
For more information
about the TDP, beneficiaries may access the benefit handbook online at the link
above right or by calling toll-free 1-800-866-8499, 24 hours a day.