The TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) stands as a voluntary dental plan, offering comprehensive dental coverage to eligible beneficiaries. Enrollment is easily accessible for sponsors through the user-friendly Beneficiary Web Enrollment website.
Are you eligible to enroll in Tri Care Dental Program? You can enroll if you fall into one of these categories:
- Family member of an active duty service member.
- Family member of a National Guard or Reserve member.
- National Guard or Reserve Member not currently on active duty or covered by the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP).
For detailed information on costs, please >>View TRICARE Dental Program Costs.
Your Dental Program Administrator: United Concordia
United Concordia is the dedicated dental contractor responsible for administering the TDP benefits. To manage your Tri Care Dental Program account, you’ll need a Department of Defense Self-Service Logon to create your initial account. Once enrolled, creating a dedicated account with United Concordia (create an account) unlocks a range of self-service options, including:
- Reviewing your comprehensive dental coverage details.
- Easily checking the status of submitted claims.
- Accessing your detailed claims history.
- Viewing Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements.
- Registering any chronic conditions, pregnancy, or special needs to ensure tailored care.
- Customizing your communication preferences, choosing between text, email, or traditional mail updates.
- Utilizing a secure Messaging Center for direct communication and support.
Finding a dentist within the network is straightforward. If you are located in the CONUS (50 United States, District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), you can utilize the United Concordia network search tool. For those stationed overseas (OCONUSAreas outside of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), the OCONUS Find a Dentist Tool will assist you in locating a participating dentist.
Simple Enrollment Options for Tri Care Dental
Enrolling in the TDP is designed to be convenient with multiple options to suit your needs. You can complete your enrollment online, via phone, or through the mail. Remember these key points when enrolling in Tri Care Dental:
- Enroll all eligible family members at the same time to ensure comprehensive family coverage.
- Be prepared to pay your first monthly premium upon enrollment.
- Set up automatic payments for ongoing premium payments to maintain continuous coverage.
| Enrollment Method | Instructions |
|---|---|
| Online | – Visit the Beneficiary Web Enrollment website. – Click the red “Log On” link at the top of the page. – You’ll need a Common Access Card (CAC), DFAS (MyPay) Account, or a DoD Self-Service Logon (DS Logon) account to log in securely. – Select the “Dental” tab to initiate your enrollment in the dental plan. – Note: Online enrollment is not available for overseas locations. |
| Phone | – For CONUS enrollments: dial 844-653-4061 – For OCONUS enrollments: dial 844-653-4060 – For OCONUS Toll access: dial 717-888-7400 |
| – Download the TRICARE Dental Program Enrollment/Change Authorization form. – Mail the completed form along with your first monthly premium payment to: United Concordia TRICARE Dental Program P.O. Box 645547 Pittsburgh, PA 15264-5253 |
Disenrollment from Tri Care Dental Program
Should you need to disenroll from the TRICARE Dental Program, you can do so by completing a new TRICARE Dental Program Enrollment/Change Authorization Form. The effective date of your disenrollment will depend on when your form is received. In some instances, disenrollment may also be possible through the Beneficiary Web Enrollment website.
Understanding the Minimum Enrollment Period
The Tri Care Dental Program requires a minimum enrollment period of 12 months to ensure program stability and benefit continuity.
- Your sponsor must have a minimum of 12 months remaining on their service commitment at the time of enrollment.
- The initial 12-month enrollment must be completed unless you qualify for a valid exception to end coverage early.
- Following the initial 12-month period, your coverage automatically continues on a flexible month-to-month basis, providing ongoing dental security.
For detailed information about exceptions to the minimum enrollment period, please refer to the TRICARE Dental Program Handbook.
Choosing the Right Plan Option for Your Needs
The TDP offers flexible plan options to cater to different family sizes and needs within the Tri Care system:
- Single Plan: Designed for coverage of one individual.
- Family Plan: Provides coverage for two or more eligible family members.
If you opt for a family plan, it’s important to note the enrollment guidelines:
- Generally, all eligible family members must be enrolled under a family plan.
- Exceptions include:
- Children under one year of age. Children are automatically added to the family plan on the first day of the month following their first birthday.
- Family members residing in separate locations, allowing for individual plans if needed.
- Family members requiring specialized medical care in a hospital or dedicated treatment center. (Documentation may be required for this exception).
Enrollment for National Guard and Reserve members and their families has a slightly different structure due to the varying nature of their military status.
- Sponsors and family members enroll separately, and distinct premium payments are required for each enrollment.
- Sponsors are limited to selecting a single plan for their coverage.
- Family members have the flexibility to enroll in either a single or a family plan, depending on their needs.
- Importantly, family members can enroll in a plan even if the sponsor does not elect to enroll in a Tri Care dental plan.
Do you require an annual dental exam to meet dental readiness requirements? TRICARE Dental Program network dentists are authorized to complete the dental exam form (DD 2813) for you at no cost, supporting your readiness goals. >>Learn More about dental forms.
Understanding Your Tri Care Dental Coverage
Once you submit your TDP enrollment form, United Concordia undertakes a streamlined process to activate your Tri Care dental benefits:
- Eligibility verification to confirm program access.
- Premium payment validation to ensure correct financial processing.
- Enrollment processing to formally activate your coverage.
- Proactive communication to contact you should any issues or clarifications be needed during enrollment.
- Coverage effective dates are determined by the enrollment receipt date:
- For enrollments received by the 20th of the month, coverage begins on the first day of the following month.
- For enrollments received after the 20th of the month, coverage will start on the first day of the second month thereafter.
- Refer to the sample enrollment start date chart below for clear examples.
If you desire an enrollment card for your records, you can easily download a digital card from the milConnect website. It is crucial to remember that any dental care received before your official coverage start date will be your full financial responsibility.
| Date Verified | Enrollment Starts |
|---|---|
| December 21-January 20 | February 1 |
| January 21-February 20 | March 1 |
| February 21-March 20 | April 1 |
| March 21-April 20 | May 1 |
| April 21-May 20 | June 1 |
| May 21-June 20 | July 1 |
| June 21-July 20 | August 1 |
| July 21-August 20 | September 1 |
| August 21-September 20 | October 1 |
| September 21-October 20 | November 1 |
| October 21-November 20 | December 1 |
| November 21-December 20 | January 1 |
Filing Claims with Tri Care Dental
>>View TDP Claims information for detailed guidance on submitting claims and managing your Tri Care Dental benefits effectively.
Last Updated 11/21/2024
