Military families to see slight drop in Tricare dental premiums

Editor’s notice: This text was up to date Nov. 1 with Protection Well being Company’s response to questions on what occurs to the charges after Feb. 28.

Tricare dental premiums will lower barely for the subsequent 4 months, bringing modest financial savings for army households at a time when some are feeling the squeeze of rising shopper prices.

The brand new month-to-month premiums, efficient Nov. 1 to Feb. 28, 2025, differ primarily based on the sponsor’s standing and the enrollment kind, with reductions starting from $0.26 to $3 a month.

Lively responsibility relations, Nationwide Guard and Reserve members and their relations are eligible for the Tricare Dental Program, a voluntary plan separate from Tricare medical protection. This system is run by United Concordia.

On the time of this text’s unique publication Thursday, info was not instantly out there from Protection Well being Company officers about what would occur to charges after Feb. 28.

On Friday, Protection Well being Company spokesman Brenda Campbell informed Army Instances {that a} new Tricare Dental Program contract begins March 1. The premium charges beneath the brand new contract will probably be posted quickly after the start of 2025. Beginning March 1, charges will change on that date every year and be efficient till the final day of February the next yr.

The present dental plan premium charges have been in impact since Could 1, 2023.

Tricare Dental Program charges “change periodically,” stated Douglas Elsesser, a program analyst with the Dental Program Part of Tricare on the Protection Well being Company, in a DHA announcement of the speed decreases. “This helps premiums keep present with the market whereas sustaining reasonably priced protection for you and your loved ones.”

Army households pay the premiums month-to-month for the subsequent month’s protection. Along with the premiums, there are cost-shares for sure dental providers, which have remained the identical.

Tricare dental premium charges efficient Nov. 1 by Feb. 28, 2025:

Lively responsibility:

Sponsor solely: Not relevant, as dental advantages are offered by Lively Responsibility Dental ProgramOne member of the family: $12.10; lower of $0.26 from $12.36More than one member of the family: $31.46; lower of $0.67 from $32.13

Chosen Reserve and Particular person Prepared Reserve (mobilization)

Sponsor solely: $12.10; lower of $0.26 from $12.36Single (one member of the family, doesn’t embody sponsor): $30.25; lower of $0.64 from $30.89, in accordance with the Tricare websiteFamily (a couple of member of the family, doesn’t embody sponsor): $78.64; lower of $1.69 from $80.33Sponsor and household: $90.74; lower of $1.95 from $92.69

Particular person Prepared Reserve (non-mobilization)

Sponsor solely: $30.25; lower of $0.64 from $30.89Single: $30.25; lower of $0.64 from $30.89Family: $78.64; lower of $2.19 from $80.83Sponsor and household: $108.89; lower of $3 from $111.89