Tricare retiree dental benefit available overseas

  • Published
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFPN) --  Retired Tricare beneficiaries living overseas may enroll in the Tricare Retiree Dental Program beginning Oct. 1.

The Enhanced-Overseas TRDP is available for all eligible uniformed service retirees and their families.

"For many years, military retirees and their families have requested a dental program overseas," said Navy Capt. Robert Mitton, the chief of the dental care branch for the Tricare Management Activity. "We at Tricare are very excited about fulfilling that desire with the new Enhanced-Overseas TRDP."

Before this enhancement, the dental program was only available to retirees and their families in the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Canada. The Enhanced-Overseas TRDP now allows retirees worldwide to purchase dental coverage.

Tricare officials said the highlights of the benefits available under the enhanced program include:
-- Affordable premiums.
-- Immediate coverage upon effective enrollment date for all routine, preventive and emergency services, such as cleanings, exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments, fillings, oral surgery, periodontal treatment and root canals.
-- Coverage for implant services, crowns, bridges, dentures and orthodontics after a 12-month waiting period.
-- Separate dental accident coverage is included.

There is no TRDP dentist network overseas; however, Enhanced-Overseas TRDP enrollees who need to locate a dentist for covered services may call the International SOS Assistance Inc., a 24-hour referral service, toll free from inside the United States at 800-523-6586 or outside of the United States via collect call to 215-942-8226. People should indicate to an I-SOS representative that Delta Dental is their dental coverage carrier.

Also, an online host-nation provider list of more than 500 dentists and dental clinics in nearly 50 countries is located on the TRDP Web site at www.trdp.org. Note that overseas dentists do not offer discounted dental services as do the participating TRDP dentists within the original service areas.

For Enhanced-Overseas TRDP customer service questions, contact Delta Dental of California via the following international toll-free number (AT&T USADirect Access Number) at +866-721-8737.

"Offering the TRDP overseas gives retirees and their families a fantastic opportunity for access to more affordable dental care through a program that has a proven track record," Captain Mitton said. 

(Courtesy of Tricare News Service)

Comment on this story   (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page