TRICARE Retiree Dental Program question

[mic4me]

I received notice this weekend that my TRICARE retiree dental program ends at the end of the year. I am looking for recommendations for programs that are readily accepted here in TV from the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Program (FEDVIP) for my wife and me.

[Sparty6971]

I called my existing dentist and they are aware of this coming change and told me they were able to accept many of the plans offered. I plan to take the list into their office just prior to open sign-up and discuss in person. If you like the dentist office you currently use, no need to change if they will take one of the many offered.

BTW: Same for eye clinic insurance which we did not have before with Medicare or TricareForLife. Find a good office, take the plan list in and have them tell you which ones they perfer. Then you can compare that with the one you want from a cost basis.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

I called my existing dentist and they are aware of this coming change and told me they were able to accept many of the plans offered. I plan to take the list into their office just prior to open sign-up and discuss in person. If you like the dentist office you currently use, no need to change if they will take one of the many offered.

BTW: Same for eye clinic insurance which we did not have before with Medicare or TricareForLife. Find a good office, take the plan list in and have them tell you which ones they perfer. Then you can compare that with the one you want from a cost basis.

There is a big difference between accepting the plan and being in the network. That difference will be reflected in your co-pay. For example, if you selected the Delta Dental plan, they will pay 100% of your basic services to a network dentist but only 90% to an out of network dentist. The Aetna plan makes no distinction between network and out of network. BlueDental pays just like Delta as does MetLife. Humana won't pay a cent for out of network. United Concordia has the retiree paying 20% co-pay for basic services by out of network dentist.

The problem in this area is the network dentists have the worst reviews.

[tag460]

We have United Concordia and our provider is Grand Traverse Dental. Until this year I had Aetna Dental, the reason I changed was the monthly cost. When I changed plans, I had to change dentist and I am satisfied with United Concordia coverage.

[Topspinmo]

Ok, also have delta dental plan and have to find another provider, has anybody done price comparisons between delta and Aetna and what pay out put. IMO most are rip off due to the only pay for cleaning and less than half for real dental problem like crowns, caps, and root canal? Plus when they do pay it takes Year or two to pay anything.

[jnieman]

Be prepared for the "missing tooth clause". Changing from one dental insurance to another. We had federal Aetna and switched to federal Delta and I had a couple of missing teeth and was getting ready to get implants. Turned out when my new Delta dental dentist sent in for an estimate to get the implant done they said there was a missing tooth clause. This means they won't pay for any dental work because that tooth was already missing when I got the plan. So in other words if you have any missing teeth get the work done on them before you switch plans.

[Topspinmo]

Be prepared for the "missing tooth clause". Changing from one dental insurance to another. We had federal Aetna and switched to federal Delta and I had a couple of missing teeth and was getting ready to get implants. Turned out when my new Delta dental dentist sent in for an estimate to get the implant done they said there was a missing tooth clause. This means they won't pay for any dental work because that tooth was already missing when I got the plan. So in other words if you have any missing teeth get the work done on them before you switch plans.

Yep, this what happens when lobbyist influence politicians. All the legal little fine print. IMO dental insurance is scam. You end up paying double for any dental work which IMO includes cleanings. Buy the time they pay 1/2 or less for implant, cap, or crown, let alone root canal you're already paid double for it. I probably drop out cause what even plan out there will have start over paying double before they pay anything?