An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News | Sept. 17, 2024

TRICARE Dental Program Automatically Enrolls Kids at Age 1

By TRICARE Communications

As a new parent, you have a lot on your mind—but dental insurance for your baby might not be at the top of the list. Don’t worry! The TRICARE Dental Program has you and your baby covered.

“The TRICARE Dental Program helps military families by signing up kids at age 1,” said Douglas Elsesser, a program analyst with the Dental Program Section of the TRICARE Health Plan. “This makes sure children can get dental care early, when it matters most. Parents don't have to remember to enroll, so they can focus on other important things. It's a smart way to keep your family healthy and ready.”

Your child will join the TDP on the first day of the month after their first birthday. For example, if your child is born in August, they’ll join Sept. 1. As long as DEERS is up to date, your child will enroll in TDP automatically. You can even choose to sign your child up before they turn 1.

Automatic enrollment doesn’t apply to National Guard and Reserve members who only have coverage for themselves and are enrolled in a single plan. For everyone else, your child will join your plan when they turn 1, even if you forget to sign them up.

Adding your child to the TDP may change how much you pay each month. Your premium depends on how many family members are on the plan and your military status. If you had a single plan before, it’ll change to a family plan when your child joins. This means your monthly cost will go up.

Remember: As stated in the TRICARE Dental Program Handbook, you must add your child to DEERS for them to get TDP coverage. This is a separate step from the automatic TDP enrollment.

Having dental coverage for your child is important. With TDP’s automatic enrollment, you can focus on other parts of parenting without worrying about missing this crucial step. Your child’s dental health will be protected from an early age, setting them up for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Would you like the latest TRICARE news sent to you by email? Visit TRICARE Subscriptions, and create your personalized profile to get benefit updates, news, and more.
 

Woman looks down at computer screen displaying TRICARE.mil/newsletters webpage. Text reads, "Catch up on the latest health news! www.tricare.mil/newsletters"

Stay In the Know With TRICARE Newsletters

News
Sep. 19, 2024

Did you know that TRICARE publishes quarterly newsletters? The TRICARE Health Matters Newsletter and the...
Read More
Woman sits on couch and smiles while looking down at smartphone.

How To Access Your MHS GENESIS Patient Portal

News
Sep. 12, 2024

Looking to access your health information? It’s never been easier, thanks to the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal...
Read More
A man poses for a photo in a maintenance shop with a saw table behind him.

TRICARE Is Your Partner in Mental Health Care

News
Sep. 10, 2024

Suicidal thoughts can be experienced by anyone and are a serious mental health concern. If you or someone you...
Read More
Smiling woman stands in front of American flag.

Unlock Your Health With Patient Advocates and Be...

News
Sep. 03, 2024

Did you know that military hospitals and clinics come with a support staff of people who can help you navigate...
Read More
Map of the United States. West Region is highlighted in blue, while East Region is highlighted in green. Six states (Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin) are highlighted in blue/green with arrows moving them from the East to the West.

Know How TRICARE Regions Are Changing in 2025

News
Aug. 30, 2024

On Jan. 1, 2025, there will be changes to the TRICARE regions in the United States as part of TRICARE's new...
Read More
Uniformed Sailor wearing glasses gives shot to another Sailor sitting down.

Learn How To Get Your TRICARE Vaccines Overseas

News
Aug. 28, 2024

Flu season is right around the corner—which means it’s time to start thinking about getting vaccines for...
Read More
Uniformed service member stands in pharmacy and reaches for to high shelf for box of medication.

Your Guide to TRICARE Pharmacy Program Terms

News
Aug. 22, 2024

Do you have a new prescription you need to fill? Or maybe you’ve been taking the same drug for years. Knowing...
Read More
Two hands search through manila folders in file cabinet.

TRICARE How-To: Filing Claims and Reimbursements

News
Aug. 20, 2024

Have you ever had to get care while traveling? Or maybe you’ve had to visit a non-network TRICARE-authorized...
Read More

Sept. 19, 2024

Stay In the Know With TRICARE Newsletters

Did you know that TRICARE publishes quarterly newsletters? The TRICARE Health Matters Newsletter and the TRICARE Dental Program Health Matters Newsletter offer helpful information about your health and dental plans, as well as the latest TRICARE news.

Sept. 17, 2024

TRICARE Dental Program Automatically Enrolls Kids at Age 1

As a new parent, you have a lot on your mind—but dental insurance for your baby might not be at the top of the list. Don’t worry! The TRICARE Dental Program helps military families by signing up kids at age 1.

Sept. 12, 2024

How To Access Your MHS GENESIS Patient Portal

Looking to access your health information? It’s never been easier, thanks to the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal. This secure, online tool allows you to manage your health care at military hospitals and clinics from the comfort of your home or on the go.  

Sept. 10, 2024

TRICARE Is Your Partner in Mental Health Care

Suicidal thoughts can be experienced by anyone and are a serious mental health concern. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out. Help is available, and TRICARE is here to support you.

Sept. 3, 2024

Unlock Your Health With Patient Advocates and Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinators

Did you know that military hospitals and clinics come with a support staff of people who can help you navigate the healthcare process? These include patient advocates and Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinators. You can find them at any military hospital or clinic.

Aug. 30, 2024

Know How TRICARE Regions Are Changing in 2025

On Jan. 1, 2025, there will be changes to the TRICARE regions in the United States as part of TRICARE's new regional contracts. While there will still be two TRICARE regions, six states currently in the East Region (Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin) will move to the West Region.

Aug. 28, 2024

Learn How To Get Your TRICARE Vaccines Overseas

Flu season is right around the corner—which means it’s time to start thinking about getting vaccines for common respiratory diseases. If you live or travel overseas, it’s important to know where you can get these vaccines.

Aug. 22, 2024

Your Guide to TRICARE Pharmacy Program Terms

Do you have a new prescription you need to fill? Or maybe you’ve been taking the same drug for years. Knowing these TRICARE Pharmacy Program terms can help you get the medications you need at the right price.  

Aug. 20, 2024

TRICARE How-To: Filing Claims and Reimbursements

Have you ever had to get care while traveling? Or maybe you’ve had to visit a non-network TRICARE-authorized provider who doesn’t “participate.” In these situations—and some others—you might need to file a claim with TRICARE to get reimbursed.

Aug. 15, 2024

Learn About TRICARE Qualifying Life Events at Aug. 22 Webinar

Join TRICARE Thursday, Aug. 22, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET for the “Moving, Marriage, and More: What TRICARE QLEs Mean for You” webinar.