Tricare Dental Program Contract Transition Notification

1.  Purpose: To notify eligible beneficiaries that the Defense Health Agency awarded the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) contract to United Concordia Companies, Inc. (UCCI).  Dental care under the new contract begins 1 May 2017, following a 12-month transition.
2.  Background.  The contract provides worldwide 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 following information is provided to support the transition from the current TDP provider, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Inc. (METLIFE) to UCCI.
3.  Situation.  The new contract features the following new benefits and enhancements:
 (1) An increase in the annual maximum from 1,300 dollars to 1,500 dollars per enrollee.
 (2) premiums for the life of the contract below the current rates.
4.  Enrollees will receive a welcome packet between March and April 2017.  Customer service and claims information will be included in the welcome packets.
5.  UCCI has many network dentists.  Many current METLIFE providers also accept UCCI, but in some cases enrollees may have to change dentists in order to receive the benefits of a UCCI 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 costs will not be reimbursed to the same extent.
6.  TDP claims with a date of service prior to 1 May 2017 will be processed by METLIFE.  Claims for service on or after 1 May 2017, will be processed by UCCI.  Enrollees should advise their dental providers of the new UCCI information for any services rendered on or after 1 May 2017.
7.  TDP offers worldwide coverage.  Enrollees living overseas will benefit from all new enhancements.  There will continue to be a list of TRICARE Overseas preferred dentists.
8.  The change to UCCI does not impact the Active Duty Dental program, which continues to be administered by UCCI, as it has in the past.
9.  In order to be eligible for TDP, family members must first be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).  For DEERS eligibility assistance, contact the DEERS Support office at (800)538-9552 or your local DEERS/RAPIDS office.
10.  During the 12-month transition period, enrollees can access customer service by contacting METLIFE at (855)638-8371 (CONUS) or (855)638-8372 (OCONUS).  Effective 21 March 2017, enrollees should contact the UCCI Customer Service Department at (844)653-4061 (CONUS) or (844)653-4060 (OCONUS) for enrollment and/or questions regarding the TDP.
11.  For additional information about the TDP, sponsors and family members may visit www.tricare.mil(slash)TDP.
12.  Pharmacy and health benefits are not affected by the TDP contract, as these benefits are managed under separate contracts.
13.  This MARADMIN will expire 1 May 2018.
14.  Release authorized by BGen K. W. Stein, Director, Marine and Family Programs Division.