Enhanced Retiree Dental Plan on its Way; Significant Expansion of Dental Benefits Begins Oct. 1 for Uniformed Services Retirees and their Family Members.

Health & Medical Writers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 1, 2000

The TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) and the selected contractor for its retiree dental program, Delta Dental Plan of California, announced today the rollout of an enhanced dental program for Uniformed Services retirees and their family members beginning Oct. 1.

The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) is already the nation's largest voluntary retiree dental program, with about 525,000 enrollees. TMA and Delta officials aim to increase enrollment significantly through an expansion of coverage that is designed to appeal to an estimated 4.2 million eligible retirees and family members. Enrollment for the enhanced program begins Sept. 1 for coverage that becomes effective on Oct. 1.

"This is a dramatic benefit expansion that responds directly to input received from Uniformed Services retirees on what dental benefits they want and are willing to pay for," said Navy Captain Lawrence McKinley, TMA's Senior Consultant for Dentistry. "The program remains voluntary with no government subsidy, so consideration for developing a comprehensive benefits package that is affordable and viable were paramount in the design."

The enhanced program includes all the basic benefits offered under the current basic retiree program launched two years ago, plus coverage for cast crowns, onlays, bridges, partials/dentures, orthodontics and dental accidents, along with several additional diagnostic and preventive services.

Beginning Sept. 1, eligible retirees and their family members can find answers to their questions about the enhanced program as well as enroll online, 24 hours a day, using Delta's dedicated TRDP web site at www.ddpdelta.org. In addition, Delta will be mailing an upgrade package to all current enrollees. Those interested in upgrading from the basic program can also visit the TRDP web site for detailed information. To upgrade or enroll in the new enhanced program by phone, the toll free number is 888/838-8737.

"Current TRDP enrollees will receive detailed packets by mail during the month of September inviting them to upgrade to the more comprehensive enhanced program through return mail or by phone," said Lowell Daun, DDS, Delta's senior vice president in charge of the company's Sacramento-based Federal Services division. "The upgrade packet provides as an incentive, reduced waiting periods for some categories of services if currently enrolled retirees upgrade during September or October."

In the meantime, Delta will continue to administer the basic program for current TRDP enrollees, though it no longer accepts new enrollment in that program as of Aug. 31. If current enrollees of the basic program don't want to upgrade to the enhanced program, they can still choose to remain in the basic program on a month-to-month basis after completing their initial 24-month enrollment period.

Dr. Daun said he is optimistic that even with the higher premium structure of the enhanced program, members of the Uniformed Services retiree community will find the enhanced TRDP represents one of the best values available in the dental benefits marketplace.

"The enhanced program costs are quite reasonable, especially when you consider that this remains a freedom-of-choice program that offers unfettered access to any licensed dentist within the United States, while limiting out-of-pocket costs most effectively for those who choose one of about 28,000 DeltaSelect USA dentists."

The enhanced TRDP includes immediate coverage for additional diagnostic and preventive services, coverage for dental accidents and an allowance toward a noncovered procedure -- tooth-colored fillings in the back teeth, also called posterior composites. Coverage for some major restorative services take effect after a one-year waiting period for some enrollees, depending on the procedure and which enrollment status they fall under.

The enhanced program provides a 30-day grace period during which an enrollee can terminate his or her enrollment if dissatisfied with anything about the program, providing they have not filed a claim.

Delta Dental Plan of California is a nonprofit dental service corporation serving 14 million subscribers nationwide. Headquartered in San Francisco, it is the largest member of the Illinois-based Delta Dental Plans Association, whose independent member companies collectively cover 35 million Americans in dental HMO, PPO and traditional benefit programs.

Delta Dental Plan of California recently joined forces with Delta Dental of Pennsylvania and its affiliates in five mid-Atlantic states to form a new national holding company that is the nation's largest, single integrated dental benefits system with 16 million enrollees.