TRICARE Enrollment | Ways to Enroll (2024)

Enrollment in the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) is quick and easy. Please remember that only sponsors, or an individual with a valid Power of Attorney (POA), can enroll active duty family members in the TDP. Your current military status may affect the enrollment options for you and/or your family. You can enroll through the milConnect website using your DS Logon.

TRICARE Enrollment Options

  • TRICARE enrollment in the TDP can be obtained through a single or family plan.
  • National Guard and Reserve sponsors are only eligible to enroll under a single plan.
  • National Guard and Reserve family members can enroll under a separate single or family plan.

TRICARE Enrollment | Single Plan

A single plan is defined as one eligible beneficiary and may include:

  • One active duty family member (ADFM)
  • One National Guard or Reserve family member
  • One National Guard or Reserve sponsor

If the National Guard or Reserve sponsor chooses to enroll along with a family member(s), the sponsor will receive one bill with separate premium amounts for each enrollment plan—one for the sponsor’s single plan and one for the family member’s single or family plan.

TRICARE Enrollment | Family Plan

A family plan is defined as two or more covered family members.

Under the TDP family plan, if one family member is enrolled, all eligible family members must be enrolled, except in the following situations:

  • Children under age 1. If you have a family plan, your children will be automatically enrolled on the family plan on the first day of the month after they reach age 1.
  • Family members living in two or more locations
  • Family members who need special medical attention in a hospital or treatment center (You must have documentation)
  • National Guard and Reserve sponsors must enroll independently of their family members. Also, National Guard and Reserve sponsors can enroll their family members and not themselves.

Note: Family members cannot be enrolled under two TDP contracts. Two sponsors cannot enroll the same family member(s).

All beneficiaries must remain enrolled in the TDP for at least 12 months, unless the termination of enrollment request qualifies as an exception. After completing the 12-month minimum-enrollment period, enrollment may be continued on a month-to-month basis until the sponsor makes an enrollment termination request.

Sponsors who fail to pay premiums while still in the initial 12-month lock-in period will be locked out for 12 months before they can request reenrollment.

When the sponsor submits their TRICARE Dental Program enrollment through milConnect* or by submitting Enrollment Form, United Concordia will:

  • Determine eligibility
  • Ensure the premium payment is correct
  • Process the enrollment
  • Contact the sponsor with any questions (if needed)

If theTRICARE enrollment (along with first month’s premium) is received…

  • By the 20th of the month, coverage will start on the first day of the next month
  • After the 20th of the month, coverage will start on the first day of the second month

If any dental care is provided before the start date, the future enrollee will have to pay for the full cost of care. ID cards are available in milConnect.

* Note that enrolling online through milConnect will expedite your enrollment.

How to Enroll in the TRICARE Dental Program

There are three convenient ways to enroll in the TDP. These processes can also be used to change/add/delete enrollments.

  • Online

  • Telephone

    • CONUS: 844-653-4061
    • OCONUS: 844-653-4060 (get the AT&T access codes here)
  • Mail


    1. Download theTDP Enrollment Authorizationdocument
    2. Mail the completed TDP Enrollment Authorization document along with the initial premium payment (check, money order, or credit card authorization) to:

United Concordia
TRICARE Dental Program
P.O. Box 645547
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-5253

Events Affecting Your TRICARE Enrollment

There are a variety of occasions where you may want to add a family member to the TDP, including:

  • Marriage
  • Birth
  • Adoption (pre-adoptive and finalized adoption as reflected in DEERS)
  • Stepchild or court-ordered ward newly eligible for TDP
  • Child added before turning age 1

There are also reasons for removing a family member from the TDP, such as:

  • Death
  • Divorce—there is no former spouse coverage for this program
  • Loss of child’s eligibility when he or she marries or turns 21 or 23 if enrolled in a full-time course of study at an approved institution of higher learning, and if the sponsor provides over 50 percent of the financial support

Please note that termination of enrollment from the TDP is dependent upon meeting your 12-month initial enrollment period or having a valid reason to terminate enrollment. (For a list of valid reasons to terminate enrollment, see the online TDP Handbook)

TRICARE Enrollment | Ways to Enroll (2024)

FAQs

What is required for TRICARE eligibility and enrollment? ›

Who is eligible for TRICARE? Eligibility for this health insurance program, managed by the Defense Health Agency, is limited to active-duty personnel, retirees, and many (but not all) National Guard/Reserve members, along with their eligible family dependents, survivors, and in some cases, former spouses.

What if I missed TRICARE open enrollment? ›

To learn more, visit the TRICARE Open Season page. If you miss the TRICARE Open Season, you can change your enrollment if you have a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). These are events such as marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child.

Can you enroll in TRICARE Select at any time? ›

TRICARE Reserve Select is open for enrollment any time during the year. When completing your form online, select the requested start date offered. You can choose for coverage to start on the first of the next month, or the first of the following month.

Can I enroll in TRICARE outside of open enrollment? ›

Outside of TRICARE Open Season, you can enroll in or change enrollment to a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select following a Qualifying Life Event (QLE).

Why am I ineligible for TRICARE? ›

Why am I ineligible for TRICARE? You must be registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) to be eligible for TRICARE. If you have a change in status or a change in your orders, make sure you update DEERS through your local RAPIDS site.

Are all military veterans eligible for TRICARE? ›

Not all veterans are eligible for TRICARE. Your Service decides if you and your family members are eligible. They report the information in DEERS. To learn more, visit the TRICARE Eligibility page.

Can you enroll in TRICARE over the phone? ›

Step 1: Enroll in TRICARE Select

Call your regional contractor: East—Humana Military: 1-800-444-5445. West—Health Net: 1-844-866-9378.

Do I have to enroll in TRICARE for Life every year? ›

No. If you don't want to make a change, you don't have to do anything. Your current plan continues next year if you remain TRICARE-eligible.

Which TRICARE option requires annual enrollment? ›

TRICARE Prime Costs

Retirees, their families, and others pay annual enrollment fees. ADFMs won't pay out-of-pocket costs for TRICARE covered services if you see a TRICARE network provider in your region, and with the appropriate referral or pre-authorization.

Who is not eligible for TRICARE Select? ›

Army National Guard Service members on federal active duty must enroll in TRICARE Prime and are not eligible for TRICARE Select, however their families are eligible when the service member is activated for more than 30 days in a row.

Is it better to have TRICARE Prime or Select? ›

Is TRICARE Prime Right for You? If you're on active duty, you have to enroll in TRICARE Prime. All others can choose to enroll in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select. TRICARE Prime offers fewer out-of-pocket costs than TRICARE Select, but less freedom of choice for providers.

How long does it take for TRICARE to activate? ›

For example: If you enroll in TRICARE Select during the TRICARE Open Season, your coverage starts on January 1, of the following year. If you enroll during a qualifying life event, your coverage starts on the date of the event (example, marriage, birth). Your coverage ends when you lose eligibility or disenroll.

Can I enroll my girlfriend in TRICARE? ›

No. To add her to your TRICARE plan, she would have to be your spouse. To learn more, visit the Eligibility page.

How do I check my TRICARE enrollment? ›

You can:
  1. Log into milConnect.
  2. Call the DMDC/DEERS Support Office.
  3. Contact your regional contractor.

Is my wife automatically enrolled in TRICARE? ›

New active duty family members are automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select, depending on their location. If eligible for other plans, these family members have 90 days from the date of your marriage to change their plan. Family members of retirees aren't automatically enrolled in TRICARE.

How do I verify eligibility for TRICARE? ›

Verify the card bearer's TRICARE eligibility online at www.tricare-west.com or by calling the Health Net Federal Services, LLC (HNFS) interactive voice response (IVR) system at 1-844-866-WEST (1-844-866-9378). 4. If you are verifying online, retain a printout of the eligibility verification screen for your files.

How do I get a TRICARE eligibility letter? ›

Get Proof of TRICARE Coverage
  1. Log in to milConnect.
  2. Click on the “Obtain proof of health coverage” button.
  3. Or click on Correspondence/Documentation and choose "Proof of Coverage."
  4. Your coverage letter will be generated and available for download.
Aug 5, 2021

What is conditional eligibility with TRICARE? ›

Conditional eligibility notices will be sent to affected Covered California consumers who have not resolved their inconsistency and submitted documents 45 days after their eligibility determination.

Who is eligible for TRICARE supplement? ›

The TRICARE Supplement insurance is only available to retired military personnel, TRS members and eligible dependents. Retired military personnel are anyone who spent at least 20 years in the service.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Geoffrey Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 5505

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Geoffrey Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1997-03-23

Address: 74183 Thomas Course, Port Micheal, OK 55446-1529

Phone: +13408645881558

Job: Global Representative

Hobby: Sailing, Vehicle restoration, Rowing, Ghost hunting, Scrapbooking, Rugby, Board sports

Introduction: My name is Geoffrey Lueilwitz, I am a zealous, encouraging, sparkling, enchanting, graceful, faithful, nice person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.