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New TRICARE Dental Program premiums effective May 1

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  • By TRICARE Communications

Are you enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program, or TDP? If you are, you should know that the TDP monthly premiums changed on May 1. The new premium rates are in effect for the TDP plan year, which runs from May 1, 2022 through April 30, 2023.
 
“The TRICARE Dental Program premium amounts change each May” said Doug Elsesser, program analyst with the Defense Health Agency’s TRICARE Dental Program. “The annual rate increases are different for each premium group, depending on the sponsor’s military service status and the number of family members.”
 
The TDP is a voluntary dental plan that’s available to active duty family members, as well as National Guard and Reserve members and their family members. The TDP is available stateside and overseas. United Concordia Companies, Inc. (United Concordia) administers the TRICARE Dental Program.
 
As described in the TRICARE Dental Program Handbook, to be eligible to enroll in the TDP, the sponsor must have at least 12 months of military service left at the time of enrollment. Remember that dental coverage is separate from TRICARE’s medical coverage. And you must be enrolled in the TDP to have coverage for dental services. To learn more about TDP eligibility and enrollment, go to the TRICARE Dental Program page.
  
Your premiums are what you pay each month for TDP coverage. The amount you pay depends on the sponsor and member status (active duty, Selected Reserve, or Individual Ready Reserve) and type of enrollment:

  • Sponsor only
  • Single: one family member, doesn’t include sponsor
  • Family: more than one family member, doesn’t include sponsor
  • Sponsor and family (applies to Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve members only)

 The TDP’s new premium amounts are:

Active Duty

  • Single premiums increase to $11.94 (up from $11.65)
  • Family premiums increase to $31.04 (up from $30.28)

 Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve (Mobilization Only)

  • Sponsor only premiums increase to $11.94 (up from $11.65)
  • Single premiums increase to $29.84 (up from $29.12)
  • Family premiums increase to $77.59 (up from $75.71)
  • Sponsor and family premiums increase to $89.53 (up from $87.36)

Individual Ready Reserve (Non-Mobilization)

  • Sponsor only premiums increase to $29.84 (up from $29.12)
  • Single premiums increase to $29.84 (up from $29.12)
  • Family premiums increase to $77.59 (up from $75.71)
  • Sponsor and family premiums increase to $107.43 (up from $104.83)

When you pay your TDP premiums, you pay ahead. That means you pay the premium this month to get coverage for next month. You can pay ongoing premiums by payroll allotment. If you aren’t eligible for payroll allotment, you can pay by electronic funds transfer, credit card, or debit card. Review your options for how to pay your monthly premiums.
 
In addition to monthly premiums, you also have cost-shares, which is the amount you pay for dental services. Your cost-shares vary based on the sponsor’s pay grade and where you live.
 
The TDP has three types of plan maximums:

  • Annual Benefit Maximum: $1,500 per enrollee
  • Orthodontic Lifetime Maximum: $1,750 per enrollee
  • Dental Accident Coverage Annual Maximum: $1,200 per enrollee

You can learn more about TDP, including covered services and costs, through the TRICARE and United Concordia websites. If you have questions or need more information, reach out to United Concordia.
 
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