TRICARE Dental Program Premiums to Rise Slightly
Starting March 1, active military families will experience a small increase in their TRICARE dental program premiums, as announced by TRICARE officials.
This dental program is voluntary and its cost varies depending on the military status of the sponsor, along with the number of individuals covered. The United Concordia Dental Network provides access to dentists across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
While active duty military members receive dental care at no cost, the program also covers their families, National Guard, and Reserve officers along with their eligible family members.
For families of active duty military members in pay grade E-4 or below, the monthly premium will rise by $0.14, bringing it to $8.79. For those with two or more family members, the increment is $0.37, capping the premium at $22.85.
As for sponsors in pay grade E-5 and above, the premium per family member will increase by $0.19 to $11.72, while those covering multiple family members will see an increase of $0.49 to a total of $30.47.
The most significant increase is for unmobilized Individual Ready Reserve members buying insurance for themselves and their families, which will rise by $1.72 to $105.48 monthly.
This dental coverage is distinct from medical insurance and needs to be purchased separately. Sponsors must have at least one year of military service remaining to enroll. For current enrollees, the new premium rates will automatically apply.
The dental plan operates on a prepaid basis, meaning that payments are made for the month following the insurance period. The new rates will take effect on March 1, but affected families will see this reflected in their February bill. These premiums are set to remain until February 2027.
Beneficiaries can find more information about registration and payment options on the official TRICARE website.
Interestingly, in 2025, many military families saw a decrease in monthly dental premiums, with some active-duty families enjoying reductions of nearly a third.
