ENTITLEMENT

Although the family members of a service member, who is on active duty for a period of more than 30 days are entitled to dental care in facilities of the uniformed services, care is subject to the availability of space and facilities and the capabilities of the dental staff. Unfortunately, resources are extremely limited in most military dental treatment facilities and it is unlikely that dependents will be able to receive dental care at these facilities. Additionally, there is no entitlement to dependent dental care in a military dental treatment facility when the service member is on active duty for 30 days or less, is performing inactive duty training or is not on active duty.

DENTAL INSURANCE PROGRAM
The Department of Defense (DoD) sponsors a voluntary dental insurance program for eligible dependents as an alternative to dental care in a military dental treatment facility. The monthly premiums, covered services and the amount of copayments for treatment are specified under the particular plan.

• Types of plans: Enrollment can be for the member only, family only or both the member and the family. Depending on the status of the member, enrollment may be under a cost sharing plan with the government or a full premium plan with no government cost sharing.
• Cost shared with the government: The government pays the majority of the monthy premium. Enrollment in the premium sharing plan reequies that the service member is on active duty for more than 30 days and has a least a one year service commitment (active duty, reserve service or combination of the two) at the time of enrollment.*
• Full-premium plan*: Enrollment in this plan is available for dependents of a member of the Selected Reserve or Individual Ready Reserve when the Guardsman or Reservist is NOT on active duty for more than 30 days. The government does not share in the premium payments. These payment are the responisbility of the sevice member. Also, the service member must have a one year service commitment in order to enroll his/her dependents in this plan.
• Covered Services: Regardless of the plan under which the dependents are enrolled, the services provided are the same. The type of treatment determines the co-payment amounts, which are divided into the following catergories:
  1. Diagnostic, oral examination, and preventive services and palliative emergeny care.
  2. Basic restorative services of amalgam and composite restorations, stainless steel crowns for primary teeth, and dental appliance repairs.
  3. Orthodontic services, crowns, gold fillings, bridges, complete or partial dentures and more.
• Dental Providers:
  The insurance carrier has agreements with many licensed dentists and hygienists throughout the United States, as well as many locations outside the United States. This provider network offers the most cost effective means of obtaining dental care. An enrollee has the option of seeking care at any licensed dentist, however the member may incur additional fees.

Civilian Employer Dental Plan
You may maintain coverage under both your civilian employers provided dental benefit plan as well as the DoD dental insurance plan. For more information, see the subsection that discusses health care in the civilian job protection section.

Additional Information
Please consult your Health Benefits Advisor for further details or you may find more information about TRICARE, Dental Programs and benefits for Guard and Reserve members on the TRICARE web site: http://tricare.osd.mil/tricare/beneficiary/hptriben.html

* Effective with new TRICARE Dental Plan scheduled for February 2001.