R 071817Z MAR 12
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 119/12
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)//
SUBJ/TRICARE DENTAL PROGRAM TRANSITION GUIDANCE//
REF/A/MSGID:TRICARE WEBSITE//
AMPN/REF A IS WWW.TRICARE.MIL/TDPCONTRACT//
POC/J. STEWART/NF-5/UNIT:HQMC MFY-1/-/TEL:703-784-0298//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  BACKGROUND. TRICARE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY HAS AWARDED THE TRICARE DENTAL PROGRAM (TDP) T-3 CONTRACT TO METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,INC.(METLIFE). DENTAL CARE UNDER THE NEW CONTRACT BEGINS 1 MAY 2012, FOLLOWING A 12-MONTH TRANSITION.
2.  THE CONTRACT PROVIDES WORLDWIDE COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL COVERAGE TO ENROLLEES INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS OF UNIFORMED SERVICE ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL AND TO MEMBERS OF THE SELECTED RESERVE AND INDIVIDUAL READY RESERVE AND THEIR ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBERS.  THE TRANSITION FROM UNITED CONCORDIA TO METLIFE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR AND ENROLLED IN THE TRICARE DENTAL PROGRAM WILL BE SEAMLESS.
3.  THE NEW CONTRACT FEATURES THE FOLLOWING NEW BENEFITS AND ENHANCEMENTS:
    A.  AN INCREASE IN THE LIFETIME ORTHODONTIC MAXIMUM FROM 1,500 DOLLARS TO 1,750 DOLLARS.
    B.  INCREASE IN THE ANNUAL MAXIMUM FROM 1,200 DOLLARS TO 1,300 DOLLARS.
    C.  COVERAGE OF POSTERIOR RESIN (WHITE) FILLINGS.
    D.  ADDITIONAL 1,200 DOLLARS MAXIMUM PER YEAR FOR SERVICES RELATED TO ACCIDENTS /INJURIES.
    E.  NO COST SHARES FOR SOME PERIODONTAL SERVICES FOR DIABETICS.
    F.  COVERAGE OF AN ADDITIONAL CLEANING FOR WOMEN DURING PREGNANCY
    G.  FIRST YEAR PREMIUMS BELOW CURRENT RATES.
4.  ENROLLEES WILL RECEIVE A WELCOME PACKET AND NEW ENROLLMENT CARDS BETWEEN MARCH AND APRIL 2012.
5.  METLIFE HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF NETWORK DENTISTS.  MANY CURRENT UNITED CONCORDIA PROVIDERS ALSO ACCEPT METLIFE, BUT IN SOME CASES ENROLLEES MAY HAVE TO CHANGE DENTISTS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF A NETWORK DENTIST.  OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS MAY BE HIGHER WHEN CARE IS DELIVERED BY A NON-NETWORK DENTIST.  ENROLLEES MAY CHOOSE TO SEEK CARE FROM A NON-NETWORK DENTIST, BUT COST WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED.
6.  TDP CLAIMS WITH A DATE OF SERVICE PRIOR TO 1 MAY 2012 WILL CONTINUE TO BE PROCESSED BY UNITED CONCORDIA. ANY CHANGE IN THE CLAIMS PROCESSING ADDRESS WILL NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE TRANSITION DATE OF 1 MAY 2012.  ENROLLEES SHOULD ADVISE THEIR DENTAL PROVIDERS OF THE NEW METLIFE INSURANCE INFORMATION FOR ANY SERVICES RENDERED ON OR AFTER 1 MAY 2012.  WELCOME PACKETS WILL INCLUDE CLAIMS INFORMATION.
7.  TRICARE DENTAL PROGRAM OFFERS WORLDWIDE COVERAGE. BENEFICIARIES LIVING OVERSEAS WILL BENEFIT FROM ALL NEW ENHANCEMENTS.  THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A LIST OF PARTICIPATING HOST NATION NETWORK PROVIDERS.
8.  PHARMACY AND HEALTH BENEFITS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THE TDP CONTRACT AS THESE BENEFITS ARE MANAGED UNDER SEPARATE CONTRACTS.
9.  THE CHANGE TO METLIFE IS ONLY FOR THE TRICARE DENTAL PROGRAM. THE ACTIVE DUTY DENTAL PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO BE ADMINISTERED BY UNITED CONCORDIA.
10. THE REQUIREMENT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO FIRST BE ENROLLED IN THE DEFENSE ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY REPORTING SYSTEM (DEERS) IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR TRICARE DENTAL BENEFITS REMAINS UNCHANGED. FOR DEERS ELIGIBILITY PROBLEMS CONTACT THE DEERS SUPPORT OFFICE AT (800) 538-9552 OR REPORT TO YOUR LOCAL DEERS/RAPIDS/MILITARY IDENTIFICATION (ID) CARD ISSUANCE OFFICE.
11. DURING THE 12-MONTH TRANSITION PERIOD, ENROLLEES CAN ACCESS CUSTOMER SERVICE BY CALLING UNITED CONCORDIA AT (800) 866-8499. BEGINNING 1 MAY 2012, BENEFICIARIES CAN CONTACT METLIFE'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT (855)638-8371 FOR ENROLLMENT AND/OR QUESTIONS REGARDING THE TDP.
12. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE TRICARE DENTAL PROGRAM, SPONSORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS MAY VISIT WWW.TRICARE.MIL. BENEFIT UPDATES ARE AVAILABLE BY E-MAIL ALERTS, SIGN UP AT WWW.TRICARE.MIL/SUBSCRIPTIONS.
13. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY SES S.E. MURRAY, ASSISTANT DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS.//