Which military dental insurance you can buy depends on your status. Family members of active-duty and National Guard/Reserve members, and Guard/Reserve members who are not on active duty, can enroll in the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP). Military retirees and their families may be eligible for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), and veterans enrolled in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care can buy through the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP).
At Rank and Pay, we publish plain-language guides on military pay and benefits. Active-duty members get dental care through their active-duty benefit and do not buy TDP or FEDVIP for themselves. The table below lists carriers that sell plans in these programs.
Compare Military Dental Insurance
| Company | Pricing | Best for | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
FeaturedYour company here, pinned above every listingGet featured → | |||
| United Concordia | Not published | Active-duty and Reserve families, plus retirees | Administers the TRICARE Dental Program for family members and sells nationwide FEDVIP dental plans for retirees. |
| Delta Dental | Not published | Retirees and VA-enrolled veterans | Sells two FEDVIP PPO plans to military retirees and three VADIP PPO plans to veterans enrolled in VA health care or CHAMPVA. |
| MetLife | Not published | Retirees or veterans wanting a large network | Sells the MetLife Federal Dental Plan through FEDVIP and also offers a dental plan through the VA Dental Insurance Program. |
| Aetna Dental | Not published | Retirees wanting any-dentist choice | Sells a nationwide FEDVIP dental PPO that lets enrollees see any licensed dentist worldwide. |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP | Not published | Retirees wanting worldwide dental coverage | Offers High and Standard FEDVIP dental options to retired uniformed service members and families, with worldwide coverage. |
| GEHA | Not published | Retirees wanting Standard or High options | Sells Standard and High FEDVIP dental plans to retired uniformed service members and their families. |
| Dominion National | Not published | Retirees living in the mid-Atlantic | Sells FEDVIP dental EPO plans to military retirees in DC, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and Virginia. |
| Humana | Not published | Retirees in Humana's FEDVIP states | Offers a High PPO and a Standard Advantage EPO dental plan through FEDVIP to TRICARE-eligible retirees in its listed states. |
| UnitedHealthcare | Not published | Retirees wanting a nationwide PPO | Sells a nationwide FEDVIP dental PPO that its 2026 plan highlights say TRICARE retirees are eligible to join. |
| BCBS FEP Dental | Not published; premium lookup tool on site | Uniformed service retirees and families | FEDVIP dental plan open to uniformed service retirees and their families. |
Pricing is as each company publishes it. Confirm current terms before you sign up. Listed here? Update your listing.
Which Military Dental Plan You Can Buy
Your service status decides which program sells you dental coverage. Find your status in the list, then compare plans only inside that program.
- Spouse or child of an active-duty member: TDP.
- Spouse or child of a National Guard or Reserve member: TDP.
- Guard or Reserve member not on active duty: TDP, as long as you are not covered by the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP).
- Active-duty member: dental care comes through your active-duty benefit.
- Military retiree or a retiree's family member: FEDVIP.
- Survivor: the TDP Survivor Benefit Plan or FEDVIP.
- Veteran enrolled in VA health care: VADIP.
- Spouse or child enrolled in the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA): VADIP.
If you fit more than one line, check each program's rules before enrolling.
TRICARE Dental Program Basics
The TRICARE Dental Program is a voluntary dental plan for families of active-duty and Guard/Reserve members, plus Guard/Reserve members who are not on active duty or covered by TAMP. Voluntary means you decide whether to sign up.
You can enroll online through milConnect, by phone or by mail, as listed on the TRICARE Dental Program page. TDP carries a 12-month minimum enrollment, so treat signing up as a commitment of at least one full year.
One company in the table above administers TDP, so every TDP enrollee buys from the same administrator. That company does not publish a flat monthly premium, and its row shows "Not published" in the price column.
FEDVIP Military Dental Insurance for Retirees
Military retirees and their family members may be eligible for dental coverage through FEDVIP, which the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) runs. A 2017 defense authorization law extended FEDVIP eligibility to certain TRICARE-eligible people starting in 2019.
FEDVIP dental is sold by 11 carriers in 2026. Seven sell nationwide and four are regional, so the plans open to you depend on where you live.
One regional carrier serves DC, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and Virginia, and another serves a list of states. If no regional carrier serves your state, your FEDVIP dental choice comes from the seven nationwide carriers.
Open Season and Retirement Dates
Retirees enroll in, change or cancel FEDVIP dental during the Federal Benefits Open Season or after a qualifying life event. The annual open season runs in November and December. The 2026 open season, which sets coverage for 2027, runs November 9 to December 14, 2026.
Newly retiring members do not have to wait for open season. You can enroll from 31 days before to 60 days after your retirement date, and OPM gives new eligibles 60 days to enroll.
Survivors
Survivors are covered by either the TDP Survivor Benefit Plan or FEDVIP, according to the TRICARE retiree and survivor dental page. A surviving spouse loses TDP eligibility after 3 years.
How FEDVIP Plan Tiers and Networks Differ
FEDVIP carriers describe their dental plans in tiers such as Standard and High, and the network rules differ between carriers. The network type decides which dentists you can see.
- Some carriers sell Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans.
- Some carriers sell Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) plans, which limit you to in-network dentists.
- One carrier lets you see any licensed dentist worldwide.
Coverage amounts also differ by carrier and tier. Some carriers cover in-network cleanings, exams and X-rays at 100%. The published plan highlights show these annual maximums:
- $1,000 per person at one carrier's Standard option
- $1,500 in-network at another carrier's Standard option
- No annual maximum in-network at one High option
The two Standard caps differ by $500 a year ($1,500 minus $1,000). If you expect more than cleanings and exams in a year, compare the annual maximum and tier before you compare price.
TDP, FEDVIP and VADIP Side by Side
The three programs differ in who can join, how you enroll and how many carriers sell plans. Use this table to match your status to a program before you look at carriers.
| Program Feature | TDP | FEDVIP | VADIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who Can Buy | Families of active-duty and Guard/Reserve members; Guard/Reserve members not on active duty or covered by TAMP | Military retirees and their families; survivors | Veterans enrolled in VA health care; spouses and children enrolled in CHAMPVA |
| How You Enroll | milConnect, phone or mail | Open season, first 60 days as a new eligible, or after a qualifying life event | Directly with the carrier |
| Carriers | One administering company | 11 carriers in 2026 (7 nationwide, 4 regional) | Two carriers |
| Other Rules | 12-month minimum enrollment | Dependent child age limits apply | Permanent program in the U.S. and territories |
| Flat Monthly Premium | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Pick It If | You are a Guard/Reserve member off active duty or the family of an active-duty or Guard/Reserve member | You are a retiree, a retiree's family member or a survivor | You are enrolled in VA health care or CHAMPVA |
VA Dental Insurance Program for Veterans
VADIP lets veterans enrolled in VA health care, and spouses and children enrolled in CHAMPVA, buy dental insurance from a VADIP carrier. VADIP is a permanent program in the U.S. and its territories.
You enroll directly with the carrier, and two carriers sell VADIP plans. Both carriers appear in the table above.
VA health care enrollment comes first, because VADIP eligibility depends on it. If you are a veteran who has not enrolled, start with our VA health care guide, and see the VA benefits hub for related programs.
Before You Enroll
None of the carriers in the table publishes a flat monthly premium, so the price column reads "Not published." Rates depend on your ZIP code, region, plan and tier, and you get your figure by entering your ZIP code on the carrier's page or on BENEFEDS.
Work through these steps before you sign up:
- Match your status to one program using the list near the top of this page.
- Note your enrollment window. For FEDVIP, that is open season (November 9 to December 14, 2026), your first 60 days as a new eligible, or 31 days before to 60 days after your retirement date.
- Compare network type: PPO, EPO, or a plan that accepts any licensed dentist.
- Compare the annual maximum for each tier you are considering.
- Enter the same ZIP code on each carrier's page so the rates line up.
- For TDP, plan around the 12-month minimum enrollment.
If you also want to fill gaps on the medical side, our TRICARE supplement plans guide covers those plans.
Who Should Skip These Plans
Active-duty service members do not buy TDP or FEDVIP coverage for themselves, because their dental care comes through the active-duty benefit. Their spouses and children can still enroll in TDP.
A Guard or Reserve member covered by TAMP is outside the TDP rule for members. A veteran who is not enrolled in VA health care does not meet the VADIP rule, so VA health care enrollment is the first step.
Our guidance would change if carriers began publishing flat monthly premiums, because we could then add cost straight into the comparison. Your answer also changes whenever your status changes, such as a sponsor retiring. Find your status in the list above, then open the matching rows in the military dental insurance table and enter your ZIP code on each carrier's page to see your rate.