TRICARE Dental vs MetLife FEDVIP: 2026 Comparison | TRICARE.com

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## Bottom line The "winner" depends entirely on your military status. **TRICARE Dental (TDP)** is the winner for active duty families due to heavy government subsidies and low premiums. **METLIFE FEDVIP** is the winner for retirees, as retirees are not eligible for the TDP and must choose a dental plan through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).

* **Lowest Cost:** TRICARE Dental Program (for Active Duty families). * **Most Flexibility:** MetLife FEDVIP (offers "Standard" and "High" plan tiers). * **Best for Families:** TRICARE Dental Program (low monthly premiums for multiple dependents). * **Best for Retirees:** MetLife FEDVIP (retirees are ineligible for TDP).

## Side-by-side comparison This table compares the **TRICARE Dental Program (TDP)** managed by United Concordia to the **MetLife FEDVIP High Option** for the 2026 plan year. Note that dental plans do not utilize primary care or pharmacy tiers like health insurance; coverage is based on procedure types.

| Feature | TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) | MetLife FEDVIP (High Option) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Eligibility** | Active Duty families, Guard/Reserve & families | Retirees, their families, and certain survivors | | **Contractor** | United Concordia | MetLife (via BENEFEDS) | | **2026 Monthly Premium** | ~$12 (Single) / ~$31 (Family) for AD | ~$40 - $70+ (Varies by location) | | **Annual Deductible** | $0 | $0 | | **Preventive Care** | $0 (100% covered) | $0 (100% covered) | | **Basic Restorative** | 20% cost share | 0% - 30% cost share | | **Major Services** | 50% cost share | 50% cost share | | **Annual Max Benefit** | $1,500 per person | Unlimited (most FEDVIP High plans) | | **Orthodontic Limit** | $1,750 lifetime cap | $3,500 lifetime cap | | **Network** | United Concordia TDP Network | MetLife PDP Plus Network |

*Note: All 2026 rates are estimates based on projected inflation adjustments to the T-5 and FEDVIP contract schedules. Always check BENEFEDS.com or TRICARE.mil for exact premium quotes for your zip code.*

When to choose each

### TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) Choose this if you are an **Active Duty family member** or a **member of the Selected Reserve/Individual Ready Reserve**. You cannot choose FEDVIP dental plans while on active duty. The TDP is heavily subsidized by the Department of Defense, covering 60% of the premium cost for active duty families. It is the most economical choice for basic dental maintenance and routine procedures.

### MetLife FEDVIP Choose this if you are a **Military Retiree** or a retired Guard/Reserve member. Once you retire, your eligibility for TDP ends. MetLife is one of several carriers under the FEDVIP umbrella. The "High" option is best for those anticipating major dental work (crowns, bridges, or orthodontics) because it often features an unlimited annual maximum benefit, whereas the TDP caps benefits at $1,500 per year.

## Switching between them You generally cannot "switch" between these two based on preference; the switch is dictated by a **Qualifying Life Event (QLE)**—specifically, retirement.

* **At Retirement:** When you transition from Active Duty to Retiree status, you lose eligibility for TDP. You have a 60-day window from your retirement date to enroll in a FEDVIP dental plan via BENEFEDS.com. * **Open Season:** FEDVIP has an annual Open Season (typically mid-November to mid-December) where retirees can switch between dental carriers (e.g., switching from MetLife to Delta Dental or United Healthcare). * **TDP Enrollment:** Active duty families can enroll in TDP at any time; however, there is a mandatory 12-month initial enrollment period.

## Sources * TRICARE Dental Program Overview: [https://www.tricare.mil/tdp](https://www.tricare.mil/tdp) * BENEFEDS (FEDVIP Enrollment): [https://www.benefeds.com](https://www.benefeds.com) * United Concordia TDP Site: [https/www.uccitdp.com](https://www.uccitdp.com) * MetLife Federal Dental: [https://www.metlife.com/fedvip-dental/](https://www.metlife.com/fedvip-dental/)