> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://dso.getlemma.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# TRICARE dental

> Military dental benefits: the TRICARE Dental Program and Active Duty Dental Program, both administered by United Concordia, and how a dental group enrolls.

**Military dental runs through United Concordia, not the TRICARE medical contractors.** Both the TRICARE Dental Program (family members) and the Active Duty Dental Program (service members) are administered nationwide by United Concordia Dental. So "taking TRICARE" for a dental group means one relationship with United Concordia, not regional medical contracts.

Payer portals, forms, IDs, and procedures change frequently. **Timely-filing limits and other participation terms come from the applicable current payer materials and your executed agreement.** Use this page as a starting point, then verify the product, entity, provider, location, and effective date with the payer.

## The two programs

| Program                                       | Who it covers                                              | Size              | Administrator    |
| --------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | ---------------- |
| **TRICARE Dental Program (TDP)**              | Family members of active duty, National Guard, and Reserve | **\~1.8 million** | United Concordia |
| **TRICARE Active Duty Dental Program (ADDP)** | Active duty service members receiving civilian dental care | **\~1.4 million** | United Concordia |

United Concordia, a Highmark Inc. subsidiary, **received a new five-year TDP contract valued at roughly \$\$3 billion in October 2023**.<sup>1</sup> Federal program contracts are periodically re-competed, so confirm the current administrator before enrolling.

## Enrollment

The route is **United Concordia network participation**. See the [United Concordia profile](/reference/payers/profiles/united-concordia) and start at [unitedconcordia.com](https://www.unitedconcordia.com/). One credentialing relationship covers commercial United Concordia plans and the military dental programs, though program participation and rules are distinct. Confirm TDP/ADDP status explicitly during contracting.

## Program mechanics

* **Program rules govern participation.** Federal program materials set the TDP and ADDP cost shares, covered services, and authorization requirements. Use United Concordia's current program documents for operations.
* **ADDP care is authorization-driven.** Civilian dental care for active duty members generally requires a referral/appointment authorization before treatment; treating without one commonly means non-payment.
* **The programs are federal**, so state insurance law (including non-covered-services fee laws) generally does not apply.

## Operational notes

* **Don't confuse dental with medical TRICARE.** TRICARE East/West medical contractors have nothing to do with dental claims; dental goes to United Concordia under the applicable program.
* **Beneficiary category drives the program**: an active duty member is ADDP, their spouse and children are TDP, and the two have different rules for the same office visit.

## Sources

1. Highmark Health, [United Concordia highlights](https://www.highmarkhealth.org/annualreport2024/highlights/ucd/index.shtml) (program sizes); United Concordia, [TDP contract award release](https://news.unitedconcordia.com/united-concordia-news-releases?item=122519) (October 2023); Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, [contract coverage](https://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2023/10/24/highmark-inc-united-concordia-companies-dental-contract-tricare/stories/202310230067).