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How to Find Dentists Near You Who Accept Military or Government Insurance Plans

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Military members and those on government health plans are not entirely immune to the high cost of dental care. A single root canal with crown can prove extremely costly. What makes the situation worse is that dentists are not always upfront with their prices. This makes it much harder to plan in advance how you will tame the cost of dental work.

Fortunately, like with other medical costs, a military or government insurance plan can often slash your total bill when it comes time to pay. The US government, as well as individual states, run their own dental insurance programs with their own eligibility rules.

Below, we show you how to find dentists in your area for some military and government-sponsored programs. In case you are still deciding which plan to get, you can check the details to find out if local dentists participate.

Finding Dentists Who Accept Tricare

Veterans and active duty military personnel have their own special medical insurance program. Tricare is widely regarded as one of the best comprehensive health coverage programs in the nation. If you are on Tricare, you should be aware of the three types of dental coverage offered by the program. These are:

Tricare Active Duty Dental Program - This program is for active duty service members and is administered by the insurance company United Concordia. To find a participating dentist around you, visit the United Concordia website and search for a participating dentist. You are entitled not to pay anything for dental treatment under this program.
Tricare Dental Program - This insurance plan is for family members of service personnel. It is run by United Concordia. Most services, such as oral surgery and periodontics, are covered. To find a participating dentist, visit the United Concordia website and use their dentist search tool. Alternatively, you can call United Concordia at support number 1-877-FYI-UCCI (1-877-394-8224) and request a dentist recommendation near you.
Tricare Retiree Dental Program - This insurance plan covers retired military service personnel and their families. It is managed by Delta Dental. You can find a list of participating dentists near you from the Delta Dental web page for the TRDP program. Alternatively, you can request assistance over the phone at numbers 888-838-8737 (24 hours automated), 866-847-1264 (TTY/TDD) and 866-721-8737 (International).

How to Find BadgerCare Dentists

For low income residents of the state of Wisconsin, BadgerCare is a welcome reprieve when it comes to medical costs. The program covers a wide variety of medical expenses, including:

Dental care
Physician services
Chiropractic
Nurse midwife services

The co-payment for BadgerCare appointments is a low $0.50 to $3, depending on the service you need. Many dentists in the state of Wisconsin provide care for BadgerCare recipients.

To find a participating dentist, you can check on the Wisconsin ForwardHealth provider directory available online or call Member Services at 1-800-362-3002. You can also ask your dentist if they accept BadgerCare.

How to Find a MassHealth Dentist

Active in the state of Massachusetts, MassHealth is one of the nation's most storied taxpayer-funded state health insurance programs. MassHealth covers health insurance for low income people, disabled people, as well as other vulnerable groups.

There are many different service levels offered under MassHealth which determine the services for which you will be covered. MassHealth Standard, as well as MassHealth CommonHealth, offer coverage for dental services to those admitted to the programs.

The main MassHealth Dental program is widely accepted by dentists across the state. If you are enrolled, you can find participating dentists on the MassHealth Dental website, which has a search tool to find MassHealth Dental providers near you.

How to Find a Subsidized-Care Dentist if You Have No Insurance

If you have no dental insurance of any kind, there are several options to investigate before you discount getting dental treatment altogether. Some places to look at include:

State programs - Just like the Wisconsin or Massachusetts programs covered above, many of the states have their own programs to assist with dental care. If you are low income, disabled, or fall in certain special groups, you will likely be eligible for a state-funded dental insurance program.
Federal programs - The federal government also runs its own programs and partnerships with local organizations to help poor people access care. These can help pay for your dental needs.
Universities and foundations - Many large universities and charity organizations run programs to provide dental care free or at low cost. These offer you another viable option to get treatment even if you have no insurance.