The White Falcon - 01.05.1987, Blaðsíða 4

Contractor chosen for
nationwide dental plan
Ilavy families will be paying the family dentist a
lot less beginning Aug. 1. That's when the new
Active-Duty Dependents' Dental Plan starts.
Delta Dental Plan of California will provide
civilian dental care for active-duty military
families nationwide, under a contract announced
April 3 by Defense officials.
Dental benefits under the new plan will cover the
dependents of active-duty members of the seven
uniformed services in the 50 states, District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Civilian dental care under the plan will not be
available to military families overseas. In
overseas areas like Iceland dependents will still be
treated at the military dental clinic on a spouse-
available basis.
The new $ 121—million contract runs for one year
with two additional one-year option periods. It was
awarded to the California firm after thorough
evaluation of several competitive bids.
Under the contract, Delta Dental Plan of
California will set up a nationwide network of
participating civilian dentists and dental hygienists.
These dental care providers will make available
certain basic and restorative services to the
families of active-duty service members who enroll
their families in the voluntary program.
Active-duty service members themselves are not
eligible for civilian dental care under the new plan,
nor are military retirees and their families,
former military spouses, or the surviving family
members of deceased active or retired service
members.
The plan will offer active-duty dependents such
preventive and diagnostic services as routine oral
exams, dental X-rays and fluoride treatments for a
small monthly deduction from the service
member’s basic pay — $3.93 for one person, or
$7.86 for two or more dependents.
Some restorative services — fillings, stainless
steel or plastic crowns for baby teeth, and repairs
to dentures — will be available on a cost-sharing
basis. For these services, the patient or military
sponsor will pay 20 percent of the allowable
charges, with the insurance plan paying the other
80 percent.
Other types of dental care, such as braces, root
canals, tooth extractions, new dentures, and
porcelain or gold crowns, are not covered by the
dental plan.
Active-duty family members in the U.S. and
other areas covered by the program who qualify
will be enrolled by the Defense Enrollment
Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) automatically.
DEERS will also maintain the master DDP enrollment
file. The uniformed services will automatically
enroll all eligible dependents registered in DEERS
unless the active-duty sponsor declines coverage
by June 1987.
Active duty sponsors who don't want their
families in the program must submit a
disenrollment form to their service. The form will
be available from local personnel offices, Health
Benefits Advisors or other sources designated by
service, regional or local commanders.
Commanding officers may approve late
declinations of this automatic enrollment until
Sept.. 30, 1987 in unusual circumstances (e.g.,
deployed unit had no opportunity to submit
paperwork). An interim enrollment/disenrollment
form is in preparation for distribution in April.
This form will be used to decline coverage during
initial automatic enrollment period, and to
enroll/disenroll commencing July 1, 1987.
Enrollment is for a minimum of 24 months, and
becomes effective the first day of the month
following submission of the enrollment form.
Normally, all collocated dependents four years and
older must be enrolled. One dependent remotely
located, however, may be enrolled at the single
premium rate if the remainder of the family does
not participate in DDP. (Example: family residing
OUTCONUS enrolls one dependent who is attending
school INCONUS.) Children younger than four may
be enrolled at the sponsor's option. Commanding
Officers may approve early disenrollment within 90
days of reporting to a new duty station after
member's PCS transfer, if members dependents
become eligible for coverage under another dental
plan, or if a member no longer has eligible
dependent's living in an authorized location.
Termination from DDP becomes effective the last
day of the month in which the member submits
disenrollment paperwork or separates from active
duty.
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The White Falcon