Access to dental benefits improves - Military Health, Tricare programs - Army Times

Access to dental benefits improves

A network of dentists and dental specialists will be set up for active-duty members who must seek dental care off-base, under a Defense Department contract awarded to United Concordia Cos.

In a related development, the Tricare Retiree Dental Program is now available for military retirees and their families who live overseas, as of Oct. 1.

The $660 million United Concordia contract, to begin Aug. 1, is expected to serve more than 100,000 active-duty members, the company said in a press release.

While active-duty members have been able to seek care in the civilian community if they were referred by a military dental facility, or did not live or work close to a military dental facility, a network of providers is a new feature, said Austin Camacho, a spokesman for Tricare Management Activity.

The network will cover the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands, Camacho said.

A network is “very important to access, particularly for National Guard and reserve members, in maintaining their dental readiness,” said Joe Barnes, executive director of the Fleet Reserve Association and co-chair of the Military Coalition.

The contract provides care, without premiums, to active-duty members referred from military dental facilities for civilian care, as well as for dental coverage under the Remote Active Duty Dental Program. That program provides dental care to recruiters and others who live and work more than 50 miles from a military dental facility.

Guard and reserve members on active-duty orders for more than 30 days are included. In certain circumstances, service members no longer on active duty also may be eligible for coverage if they were injured while serving on active duty.

United Concordia said it will set up a referral and authorization process to help active-duty members get dent-al appointments online or through a representative.

The company will also track dental readiness to ensure service members are ready to deploy.

The new dental plan available for purchase by retirees and their families overseas provides:

• Immediate coverage for routine, preventive and emergency services such as cleanings, exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments, fillings, oral surgery, periodontal treatment and root canals.

• Coverage for implant services, crowns, bridges, dentures and orthodontics after a 12-month waiting period.

• Dental accidental coverage.

According to the Tricare Web site, premiums are $36.97 a month for individuals, $71.25 for a family of two and $118.30 for a family of three or more.