Understanding TriCare Dental

Only sponsors, or an individual with a valid Power of Attorney (POA), can enroll active duty family members in the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP). Use the following links to learn more about enrolling your family members in the TDP.

*An individual with a valid POA can initiate enrollment only if the POA allows the individual to enter into contracts. A copy of the valid POA must be submitted with the TDP Enrollment / Change Form.

Enrollment Basics

You have two enrollment options for enrolling active duty family members in the TDP:

Single Enrollment  - A single enrollment is for one eligible active duty family member.

Family Enrollment  - A family enrollment is for two or more eligible active duty family members.

Under the TDP family enrollment, all eligible active duty family members must be enrolled, except in the following situations:

• Children under the age of 4 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 member of the family age 4 or older enrolled.
  • Dentists' recommendations are for all children to have their first dental examination by age 1.
• If a sponsor has family members residing in two or more locations (e.g., in the case of children who are attending college away from home or living with a divorced spouse), the sponsor may choose to enroll only the family members residing in one location.
• If a family member requires a hospital or special treatment environment (due to a medical condition, physical handicap or mental condition) for dental care otherwise covered by the TDP.

Note: Enrollees cannot be enrolled under two TDP contracts. Two sponsors cannot enroll the same family member(s). Additionally, in the instance that both the husband and wife are service members, two sponsors cannot enroll each other as a family member.

How to Enroll

Enrolling in the TDP is easy! You have three convenient enrollment options—online, by mail or by fax.

Your initial premium payment is required upon enrollment.

1. Enroll Online
   To enroll online, simply complete the TDP Online Enrollment/Change Form. You can enroll online by requesting a deduction from your checking account or by using a credit card (Visa® or MasterCard®) for the initial premium payment. Upon completion of the online enrollment process, a transaction number is provided. Please retain this transaction number for future reference.
2. Mail It
   Fill out the TDP Enrollment/Change Form and mail it along with your initial premium payment to United Concordia at the following address:
   
         United Concordia/TDP
         P.O. Box 827583
         Philadelphia, PA 19182-7583
3. Fax It
   Fax your completed TDP Enrollment/Change Form and initial payment (credit card only) to 1-888-734-1944.

Avoid Delays in Coverage
To ensure your coverage begins as soon as possible, fill out the enrollment form completely. An incomplete application may delay your enrollment or result in denial.

In addition, if any information does not match the information contained in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), the enrollment will be rejected and the initial premium payment will be refunded. You will then have to complete and submit a new TDP Enrollment/Change Form and initial payment. The enrollment will be processed for the next available effective date.

Effective Date of Coverage
Upon confirming eligibility through the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and receiving the appropriate initial premium payment and the completed form, United Concordia will enroll your family members in the TDP. If the TDP Enrollment/Change Form and the initial payment are received by the 20th of the month, coverage will be processed for the first day of the following month. If the TDP Enrollment/Change Form and initial premium payment are received after the 20th of the month, coverage will be processed for the first day of the second month.

For example: If your enrollment is received by February 20, your coverage will take effect on March 1. If your enrollment is received on February 21 or through the end of the month of February, your coverage will take effect on April 1.

Enrollment Confirmation
You will know that your enrollment is confirmed upon receiving your dental identification card(s). Please do not seek dental treatment without confirmation of enrollment.

If you have not yet received your identification card(s) and are seeking care, contact United Concordia’s Enrollment and Billing Member Services Department at 1-888-622-2256.

(from tricaredentalprogram.com)