ENROLLING IN THE TRICARE DENTAL PROGRAM

National Guard and Reserve sponsors may enroll themselves in the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) when they are not on active duty orders for a period of more than 30 consecutive days. Any National Guard or Reserve sponsor who is called or ordered to active duty for a period of more than 30 consecutive days receives the same benefits as an Active Duty Service Member and is not eligible to enroll in the TDP. National Guard and Reserve family members can enroll in the TDP at any time. National Guard and Reserve family members can enroll in the TDP at any time.

Benefits of Enrolling in the TRICARE Dental Program

Extensive Coverage

Ongoing research continues to highlight the connection between oral and systemic (body) connections.  These findings are changing the way dentists, physicians and patients view oral health and treat oral conditions as oral infections can contribute to health problems such as diabetes, respiratory illness, pregnancy complications and heart disease. Under the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP), National Guard and Reserve members and their families have access to United Concordia’s extensive network of quality dental providers, enhanced TDP benefits and a wellness program designed specifically to benefit individuals who are pregnant and/or suffering from certain chronic medical conditions. To view a full list of TDP covered benefits, please see the TRICARE Dental Program Handbook. Additionally, the TRICARE Dental Program Handbook Supplement contains covered procedures by code and other pertinent information by type of service.

Dental Costs for National Guard and Reserve Members

Along with an extensive network and enhanced benefits, National Guard and Reserve sponsors and their families have access to the TDP’s low cost-shares to ensure affordable coverage for the entire family.  For a complete list of cost-shares, visit the Dental Costs page of the TDP website.

Additionally United Concordia’s network dentists will complete the Department of Defense’s Active Duty/Reserve Forces Dental Examination (DD Form 2813) at no additional cost for TDP-enrolled National Guard and Reserve sponsors. This allows the National Guard or Reserve sponsors to provide the form to their designated military service representative to ensure dental readiness requirements are met. The form is available for download in the Forms and Materials section of the TDP website.

The TDP monthly premium is determined by the sponsor’s military status (Active Duty, Selected Reserve or Individual Ready Reserve [IRR]) and the enrollment plan type (single or family).

The Government subsidizes 60 percent of the TDP monthly premium for Selected Reserve and IRR sponsors in the Special Mobilization category, and the remaining 40 percent is the sponsor’s responsibility. IRR sponsors in a category other than Special Mobilization, and all Selected Reserve and IRR family members are responsible for the full amount (100%) of the monthly premium cost.

Enrolling in the TRICARE Dental Program

National Guard and Reserve sponsors and their families can enroll in the TDP with either a single or family plan, however:

• National Guard and Reserve sponsors are only eligible to enroll under a single plan.
• National Guard and Reserve family members can enroll under a separate single or family plan.

Single Plan

Includes one eligible beneficiary and may include:

• One National Guard or Reserve family member
• One National Guard or Reserve sponsor

If the National Guard or Reserve sponsor chooses to enroll along with a family member(s), there will be separate premium bills – one for the sponsor’s single plan and one for the family member’s single or family plan.

Family Plan

A family enrollment includes two or more covered family members. A National Guard or Reserve sponsor cannot be included in the family plan. If a sponsor chooses to enroll, it will be a separate, single enrollment contract.

Under the TDP family enrollment, if one family member is enrolled, all eligible family members must be enrolled. Some exceptions to this rule are below (see the TDP Handbook for a full list of exceptions):

• Children under age 1 may be voluntarily enrolled at any time. However, these children can be excluded from enrollment at the discretion of the sponsor if there is only one enrolled beneficiary in the family age 1 or older.
• If a sponsor has family members living in two or more locations (for example, children attending college away from home or living with a custodial parent), they may choose to enroll the family members living in one location or may elect to enroll eligible family members residing in multiple locations.
• National Guard and Reserve sponsors must enroll independently of their family members. National Guard and Reserve sponsors can enroll their family members and not themselves.

There are three convenient ways to enroll in the TDP. These processes can also be used to change/add/delete enrollments.

• Online
• Visit https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/ and sign in using your DS LOGON
• Mail

1. Download the  TDP Enrollment Authorization  document
             2. Mail the completed TDP Enrollment Authorization document along with the initial premium payment (check, money order, or credit card authorization) to:                          

           United Concordia
           TRICARE Dental Program
           P.O. Box 645547
           Pittsburgh, PA 15264-5253

• Telephone
• CONUS: 844-653-4061
• OCONUS: 844-653-4060 (get the AT&T access codes here)

How the sponsor’s status affects reenrollment

National Guard and Reserve sponsors may be activated and deactivated multiple times throughout their careers. The TDP offers continuous coverage to National Guard and Reserve sponsors and their families. The following information provides important coverage and premium information related to the sponsor’s status:

• National Guard and Reserve sponsors are eligible to enroll in the TDP when they are not on active duty for more than 30 consecutive days. If a TDP-enrolled National Guard or Reserve sponsor is activated for more than 30 consecutive days, his or her enrollment will automatically be terminated from the program during the period of activation and he or she will automatically be reenrolled upon deactivation.
• A National Guard or Reserve sponsor is not considered part of a family plan and can be enrolled even if the family is not enrolled. The sponsor has a separate monthly premium.
• National Guard and Reserve family members can enroll in the TDP even if their sponsor does not enroll. The plan offers continuous dental coverage throughout the sponsor’s changing status – from inactive status to active status and back again.
• During a National Guard or Reserve sponsor’s activation (more than 30 consecutive days), family members will enjoy reduced monthly premiums because they are considered active duty family members during that time. Additionally, because family-member enrollment is not dependent on the sponsor’s enrollment, family members can enroll in the TDP at any time.