New contract announced for TRICARE dental program Published April 14, 2008 By Ric Carlson 21st Medical Group PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Delta Dental of California has announced the TRICARE Management Activity of the Department of Defense has awarded the company a new, five-year contract to administer the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program The new contract becomes effective Oct. 1. The enhanced TRDP will feature additional benefits beginning Oct. 1, including certain implant services at 50 percent of allowable charges, an increase in the orthodontic lifetime maximum from $1,200 to $1,500 and 80-percent coverage for certain posterior composite restorations. Additionally, the enhanced TRDP will be extended to new overseas locations once the new contract is effective. The TRDP will continue as a national, combined fee-for-service/preferred provider program that offers enrollees access to any licensed dentist in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Canada. While enrollees may seek care from any licensed dentist in the service area, optimal benefits will be available to those enrolled retirees and their family members who choose a participating network dentist. Different options for locating a dentist and obtaining covered services will be available to those enrolled in the enhanced TRDP overseas. The program still carries a $50-per-person, per-year deductible, with a family cap of $150 and an annual maximum of $1,200 per person against which preventive and diagnostic services are not counted. Coverage for these services, as well as basic restorative services, periodontal services, endodontic services, oral surgery and dental emergencies, is available on the effective date of coverage. Eligible retirees and their family members can find answers to their questions about the current program as well as enroll using Delta's dedicated TRDP web site at www.trdp.org or by calling the toll-free-number at 1-888-838-8737.