Who Is Eligible?

Inactive National Guard/Reserve Service Members
National Guard/Reserve service members only are eligible for enrollment in the TDP when they are not on active duty.

  Any National Guard/Reserve member who is called or ordered to active duty for a period of more than 30 consecutive days will be disenrolled from the TDP and will receive the same entitlements as an active duty service member.  

Upon deactivation, National Guard/Reserve service members will be automatically reenrolled in the TDP.

National Guard/Reserve Family Members
National Guard/Reserve family members are eligible for enrollment in the TDP even if their sponsor does not enroll. The plan offers continuous dental coverage throughout the National Guard/Reserve sponsor's changing status—from inactive to active and back again.

In fact, if a National Guard/Reserve sponsor is activated, family members will enjoy reduced monthly premiums while their sponsor is on active duty, because they are considered "active duty family members" or "ADFMs" during that time. Additionally, because family member enrollment is not dependent on the sponsor's enrollment, family members can enroll in the TDP at any time.

Family members who are eligible include spouses and unmarried children (including stepchildren, adopted children, and wards) under the age of 21.

Unmarried children will be eligible up to the end of the month in which they turn 21, and they may be eligible after age 21 if they fit the following requirements:

Full-time Student
A family member over age 21 may be eligible for TDP benefits through the end of the month in which he or she turns age 23 if they are:

  • Enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university
  • More than 50 percent dependent on the sponsor for financial support

If the student terminates his or her education prior to turning 23, eligibility ends at the end of the month in which education terminates.

Disabling Illness or Injury
A family member over age 21 may be eligible for TDP benefits if he or she suffered a disabling illness or disabling injury before his or her 21st birthday, or if he or she suffered a disabling illness or disabling injury between the ages of 21 and 23 while enrolled as a full-time student and more than 50 percent dependent on the sponsor for financial support.

To ensure you are eligible to receive TDP benefits, check your eligibility now.
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