TRICARE Retiree Dental Overview

The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) was authorized by Congress to provide a basic dental program for Uniformed Services retirees and their family members. Further legislation has allowed the program to be enhanced to include more comprehensive coverage.

Under contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, the Federal Services division of Delta Dental Plan of California administers the TRDP.

The TRDP is a voluntary dental benefits program with enrollee-paid premiums.

Covered services under the TRDP are offered throughout the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Canada. The following will provide an overview of how the TRDP works:

• TRICARE Retiree Dental Program Enrollment
• TRICARE Retiree Dental Program Providers
• TRICARE Retiree Dental Program Eligibility
• TRDP Benefits offered to Reserve and Guard

TRICARE Retiree Dental Enrollment

• A 12-month commitment is required upon enrollment.
• A grace period of 30 days from the coverage effective date is available during which termination of enrollment may be allowed without any further obligation, providing that no benefits have been used.
• After the initial 12-month commitment, enrollment continues on a month-to-month basis.
• Enroll three ways: online at www.trdp.org, by toll-free telephone at 1 (888) 838-8737 or by mail.

TRICARE Retiree Dental Providers

• Enrollees may seek treatment from any licensed dentist or specialist within the TRDP coverage area.
• To minimize out-of-pocket expenses, enrollees may seek treatment from 67,000 participating provider locations.

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TRICARE Retiree Dental Eligibility

You are eligible to enroll in the TRDP if you are:

• A member of the Uniformed Services who is entitled to Uniformed Services retired pay, including those age 65 and over.
• A member of the Retired Reserve/Guard, including a "gray-area" reservist who is entitled to retired pay but will not begin receiving it until age 60.
• A current spouse of an enrolled member.
• A child of an enrolled member, up to age 21 (to age 23 if a full-time student, or older if disabled before losing eligibility).
• An unremarried surviving spouse or eligible child of a deceased member who died while in retired status or while on active duty.
• A Medal of Honor recipient and eligible immediate family member, or an unremarried surviving spouse/eligible immediate family member of a deceased recipient.
• A current spouse and/or eligible child of certain nonenrolled members with documented proof the nonenrolled member is:
  • eligible to receive ongoing, comprehensive dental care from the Department of Veterans Affairs; or
  • enrolled in a dental plan, through other employment, which is not available to family members; or
  • unable to obtain benefits from the TRDP due to a current and enduring medical or dental condition.

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Benefits offered to National Guard and Reserve Members:

National Guard and Reserve personnel who elect to enroll in the TRDP within 120 days after retirement are now eligible to skip the 12-month waiting period normally required for certain TRDP benefits. Effective February 1, 2005, TMA has authorized a waiver from requiring retired National Guard and Reserves who meet the criteria to enroll in the TRDP for 12 months prior to gaining the maximum allowed benefits for cast crowns, cast restorations, bridges, dentures and orthodontics for adults and children.

Additionally, this new waiver will be applied retroactively to February 1, 2004, for any Guard and Reserve enrollees who can document their enrollment in the TRDP within 120-days after their retirement effective date. Delta will process any claim adjustments resulting from this retroactive waiver upon notification from the enrollee and submission of the appropriate documentation.

All new enrollees seeking to obtain the waiver should submit a copy of their retirement orders with their TRDP application.

Eligible retirees and their family members can find information about the program by visiting the TRDP Web site and toll-free number listed below.

For more information about the TRDP, call toll-free at 1-888-838-8737, or visit Delta Dental online at: www.trdp.org.

For general information about TRICARE, call one of the many toll-free TRICARE information lines found at the TRICARE Contact Us web page.