JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Lesson learned - Airman pays $600 out of pocket for spouse's dental services because he was not aware that dental coverage was separate from TRICARE.
We sometimes take for granted that as uniformed members we have the luxury of having one building to service all of our medical and dental needs without ever seeing a bill. What some of us may not realize is that this luxury does not extend to dependents.
If you have recently been married, there are steps you must take to ensure your dependents are enrolled with the proper coverage. Once all dependents are properly enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, you must then enroll them separately in TRICARE for medical coverage and United Concordia's Delta Dental Plan for dental coverage. Both are inexpensive plans, but if not properly enrolled, you will be responsible for any services rendered.