Dental care coverage changes will be coming as of 1 February 2012.
According to the news release, the program will transition from a contract with United Concordia to Metropolitian Life Insurance Company. The transition will take 12 months.
Below is information from the announcement made by TRICARE Management Activity.
TRICARE Management Activity announces its intent to award the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) contract to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of Bridgewater, N.J.Dental care coverage under the new contract begins Feb. 1, 2012, following a 12-month transition period from the current contractor, United Concordia Companies, Inc.
Over 1.9 million beneficiaries purchase dental coverage through the TDP, which provides comprehensive dental coverage to family members of uniformed services active duty personnel, as well as members of the selected reserve and individual ready reserve and their eligible family members worldwide.
New and enhanced benefits including an increase in the annual maximum, an increase in the lifetime orthodontic maximum, accidental dental injury coverage, an additional cleaning for women during pregnancy, and much more. Under the new contract, all enrollees will enjoy lower premiums in the first year.
During the 12-month transition enrollees can access customer service at the same toll-free phone numbers they have been using. That contact information can be found here. Well before Feb. 1, 2012, enrollees will receive a welcome packet and new enrollment cards.
The contract award includes a base year and five one-year options. The award amount for the base year is $7,049,314. If all options are exercised, the total contract price to the government is $1.9 billion. Source selection procedures in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation were used to determine the successful offer.
A variety of information on the Tricare Dental Program can be obtained here and here.
Enrollment/Dis-enrollment information can be obtained here.
Information is also available on current cost-shares and premiums which are in place through 31 July 2011.
Also be sure to check out the My Dental Benefits online tool and the Fun Kids' Pages.
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