This post originally answered this question under the old TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP). TRDP ended December 31, 2018 — the process below reflects the current system.
Dental coverage works differently depending on your status:
- Active duty family members generally enroll in the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP), managed separately from medical TRICARE.
- Retirees and their families no longer use TRDP. Instead, dental coverage is available through FEDVIP (Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program), which has its own enrollment system, plan choices, and an annual open season (with qualifying life events allowing enrollment outside that window).
To enroll in FEDVIP, you'll generally go through BENEFEDS rather than the TRICARE enrollment portal directly. Because this process and the available plans can change, confirm current enrollment steps at TRICARE.mil's retiree dental benefits page before enrolling.
Relocating to Arkansas specifically? See our Arkansas relocation guides.