TRICARE, Your Military Health Plan

In This Section:

• Line of Duty Dental Care
• Dental Readiness

Dental Care for the National Guard and Reserves

As a National Guard or Reserve member, how you receive dental care will change depending on whether you are on active duty or not.  Here's a summary of how your dental care works.

When Not Activated
When you are not on active duty, you and your family members are eligible for the premium-based TRICARE Dental Program. The TRICARE Dental Program requires a 12-month minimum enrollment period, so you must have 12 months remaining on your service commitment to enroll. You can enroll at anytime and you will pay monthly premiums based on your military status.

If your family members wish to enroll in the TRICARE Dental Program, they can at anytime, they will also pay monthly premiums, but their enrollment will be separate from yours. This way, if and when you are called to active duty, your family members' enrollment in the TRICARE Dental Program continues without interruption. Your enrollment, however, will change. >>Learn More

When Activated
When you are called to active duty for more than 30 consecutive days, your dental care will fall under that of an active duty service member. You will receive your dental care through your service at either a military dental treatment facility, through the TRICARE Active Duty Dental Program or through the TRICARE Overseas Program Regional Call Center, depending on where you live and work. You pay no premiums for dental care as an active duty service member and there is no minimum enrollment.

If you are enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program when you are activated, your enrollment is automatically suspended. Your monthly premium charges also stop for the duration of your active duty service.

Your family's enrollment in the TRICARE Dental Program will continue when you are activated. However, they will enjoy reduced monthly premiums because they are considered "active duty family members" during that time.

When Deactivated
If you qualify for the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) based on active duty service in support of a contingency operation, then you remain covered by active duty dental benefits during the 180-day TAMP period. You will continue to receive dental care at military dental facilities and through the TRICARE Active Duty Dental Program. All orthodontics, implants, and certain complex treatments must be completed within the TAMP period.

Please Note: The TRICARE Active Duty Dental Program is only available in the U.S. and U.S. Territories. If in other overseas areas, you'll receive dental care at military dental facilities.

At the end of the TAMP period, you may enroll in the TRICARE Dental Program. If you were enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program before you were activated, your TRICARE Dental Program coverage will automatically resume when TAMP ends, and you'll start paying your monthly premiums again. If you weren't enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program before, you can do so at anytime. >>Learn More About TAMP

If you qualify for TAMP for any other reason other than leaving active duty service in support of a contingency operation or do not qualify for TAMP coverage at all, you may enroll in the TRICARE Dental Program when you deactivate. If you were enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program before you were activated, your TRICARE Dental Program coverage will automatically resume, and you'll start paying your monthly premiums again. If you weren't enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program, you can do so at anytime.

Your family's enrollment in the TRICARE Dental Program will continue uninterrupted, however, their premiums will return to the pre-activation rates.

Last Modified:October 10, 2012