Tricare to make access to dental care easier overseas

  • Published
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFPN) --  Presently, host nation dentists often require military families to make full payment up front, and then wait for reimbursement from United Concordia, the administrator of the Tricare Dental Program. Now, Tricare has modified their dental contract in an effort to eliminate the problem by seeking out host nation dentists who won't expect the total payment for treatment in advance.

"We recognize that dental care is expensive, and paying the full bill can represent a serious hardship for military members," said Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, the deputy director of the Tricare Management Activity. "No service member should have to wonder if he can afford to get his family the dental care they need, so we're finding dentists who will provide needed treatment and then file claims with United Concordia for payment." 

Reduced dental staffing in military treatment facilities overseas has forced more military families to seek dental care from host nation dentists. Requiring full payment at the time of treatment can mean hundreds of dollars out of a servicemember's pocket. Even though they would be reimbursed for most of it, paying up front creates a hardship for some Tricare beneficiaries and limits their access to dental care. In some cases, beneficiaries postpone needed care, even procedures that are completely covered by the TDP.

To help beneficiaries avoid that difficult choice, Tricare has partnered with United Concordia to find host nation dentists who will agree to be listed as Tricare Preferred Dentists. These dentists will require only the beneficiary's cost share at the time of care. In general, this means that beneficiaries can get dental services like examinations and cleanings done with little or no out of pocket expense.

In light of this change, Tricare encourages beneficiaries to remain enrolled in the Tricare Dental Program when they move overseas. In the near future, beneficiaries will be able to see the list of Tricare Preferred Dentists on the United Concordia Web site, at www.tricaredentalprogram.com.

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