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US Department of Defense
American Forces Press Service


Eligible Family Members Can Use Retiree Dental Plan

By Douglas J. Gillert
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 21, 1998 – If you're a military retiree enrolled in the TRICARE retiree dental plan, your spouse and children may also be eligible for plan coverage.

To qualify for the plan, you must be retired from active duty or a member of the Retired Reserve. If you qualify and enroll, your eligible family members (those authorized dependent identification cards) also may enroll.

Family members who may qualify for the dental plan are:

  • Unremarried surviving spouses and eligible children of deceased service members who died while in retired status or on active duty for more than 30 days. Family members must not be eligible for the TRICARE family dental plan for active duty families.
  • Children under 21.
  • Children under 23 who are enrolled as full-time college or university students and who are dependent on their retired parent for more than 50 percent of their financial support.

Beneficiaries must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. This is the computerized personnel database that reflects all military ID cardholders. Contact your nearest military personnel office for additional information and assistance.

Delta Dental of California administers the plan, which is available throughout the United States, U.S. territories and Canada. Once you're enrolled, you can get your care from any licensed dentist.

Retirees from active duty pay monthly premiums that are withdrawn automatically from their pensions. Reserve retirees receive a monthly bill. Amounts vary depending on where retirees live and the number of family members enrolled. Monthly premiums average $12.26 for one person, $23.80 for two and $39.31 for three or more.

The plan covers diagnostic, preventive and basic restorative services; oral surgery; and emergency services. Most diagnostic and preventive care doesn't require additional patient costs. More complex services, however, may require patients to share 20 percent to 40 percent of the cost after an annual $50 deductible. Enrollees' annual maximum coverage is $1,000.

Full details of the retiree dental plan are available on the Internet at http://www.ddpdelta.org, or at the following address:

Customer Service P.O. Box 537007 Sacramento, CA 958353-7007

Toll-free telephone number is (888) 336-3260, and e-mail address is ddpservice@delta.org.

Enrollment:

P.O. Box 537008
Sacramento, CA 95853-7008

Toll-free telephone: (888) 838-8737
e-mail: ddpenroll@delta.org

Billing:

P.O. Box 537008
Sacramento, CA 95853-7008

Toll-free number: (888) 336-3260
e-mail: ddpbill@delta.org