Changes to Tricare Dental Plan benefits

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Camille Stamatakos
  • 5th Medical Group
On May 1 MetLife became the dental carrier for the Tricare Dental Plan. MetLife provides dental coverage to more than two million family members of uniformed service active duty personnel, members of the Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve, their eligible family members, and survivors.
What does this mean active duty family members at Minot? There are significant changes for family members who currently use the TDP. Since this will be a new contracted insurance policy, patients' current dentists may have elected not to participate in this new contract with MetLife. If this is the case, you will have to choose a new dentist who accepts Metlife as the TDP insurance provider.
Due to this change, Minot will face a unique challenge in the Minot and its surrounding area. As of May 1, the Minot area has only eight participating providers:

Reginald Wood
10 1st St. SW
Minot, ND
701-852-3939 Ritter Family Dentistry, LLC

Stephanie Ritter
2612 Elk Dr. Ste 2
Minot, ND 58701
701-837-1050
http://ritterfamd.com/

Broadway Family Dentistry
Stanley B Hirst
1839 S Broadway
Minot, ND, 58701
701-839-1299
http://www.mybroadwayfamilydentistry.com/
 
Curtis W Kumpf
1015 S Broadway Ste 42
Minot, ND 58701
701-852-4789

Broadway Family Dentistry
Bethany Jensen
1839 S Broadway
Minot, ND, 58701
701-839-1299
http://www.mybroadwayfamilydentistry.com/

Trinity Oral Maxillofacial
Juan J Ulloa
2815 16th St. SW Ste 100
Minot, ND 58701
701-857-2900

Dakota Kids Dentistry
(ages 9 and under only)
Lance R Behm
2615 Elk Dr. Ste 1
Minot, ND 58701
701-839-4440
http://www.dakotakidsdentistry.com/

Trinity Oral Maxillofacial
Michael G McMhon
2815 16th St. SW Ste 100
Minot, ND 58701
701-857-2600

Family Dentistry
Steven Ricks
900 20th Ave SW
Minot, ND 58701
701-852-2455 Douglas T. Bengson

Dakota Dental Center
515 20th Ave SW Suite 8
Minot, ND, 58701
701-852-4755

If any services are received from a provider not listed above, this could contractually obligate the patient to pay non-negotiated prices that range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Following these guidelines can assist in avoiding any financial liability:

· If not already enrolled with an above provider, it is highly encouraged to do so immediately. Providers are accepting new patients, but space is limited.

· If participants are unable to obtain services from the providers above within 21 days, Metlife will provide financial assistance to program participants to reimburse for care received from non-network providers by calling 1-855-638-8371.

· The active duty member should check their Leave and Earning Statement to ensure that TDP deductions are still being taken.

Finally, MetLife and United Concordia, the previous TDP contractor, are working together to complete the contract transition activities for MetLife. TDP claims with a date of service prior to May 1, 2012 will continue to be processed by United Concordia for a full year after the change until April 30, 2013. All TDP claims with a date of service on or after May 1, 2012, will be submitted to MetLife. Please make note of these important dates to ensure timely processing of TDP claims.

Additional information about the contract is available at www.tricare.mil/TDPcontract and benefit updates are available at www.tricare.mil/. If there are any questions concerning this change, please contact the 5th Medical Group's beneficiary claims advisory counselor, Tom Melvin at 723-5176.
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