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| News > Some reservists billed for dental premiums |
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Story at a Glance
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• MetLife, the new contract provider for the Reserve TRICARE Dental Program, benefits include:
• -- An increase in the annual maximum to $1,300;
• -- An increase in the lifetime orthodontic maximum to $1,750;
• -- Additional $1,200 maximum per year for services related to accidents or injuries;
• -- No cost shares for scaling and root planning for diabetics; and coverage of an additional cleaning during pregnancy.
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Some reservists billed for dental premiums
Posted 5/14/2012
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by Capt. Candice Allen
Readiness Management Group Public Affairs
5/14/2012 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) -- About 3,500 Guard and Reserve Airmen on extended active duty will need to pay dental premiums directly to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. rather than through payroll deduction, officials said.
A glitch, which occurred May 1 when the TRICARE Dental Program changed providers from United Concordia to MetLife, affected reserve component members on orders for more than 30 days.
The company automatically generated paper statements and sent them to the affected beneficiaries in early May, said Lynn Head, a TRICARE Management Activity contract representative.
These service members did not have their TRICARE dental premiums deducted from their reserve pay in April. The beneficiaries will not lose coverage, but are asked to make premium payments by check, electronic funds transfer or credit card until the payroll deduction option becomes available, said Army Brig. Gen. W. Bryan Gamble, the deputy director of TRICARE Management Activity.
If reservists wait for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service to collect the outstanding premium balance, they can expect to receive recurring letters from MetLife until payroll payment catches up.
"The most important thing we want our reservists to remember is that MetLife and TMA have indicated no one will have services or benefits interrupted due to this glitch," said Lt. Col. Alexander Alex, the reserve health benefits adviser for the Air Force Reserve Command Directorate of Health Services.
Defense finance officials, TRICARE Management Activity representatives and MetLife staffers said they are working out a long-term solution to the payroll deduction issue. MetLife staffers will keep affected beneficiaries informed.
Reservists who think they may be affected should check their leave and earnings statements. They can call MetLife at 855-638-8371 if they have questions about their premium. |
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