Some reservists billed for dental premiums Published May 11, 2012 By Capt. Candice Allen Readiness Management Group Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- About 3,500 Guard and Reserve Airmen on extended active duty will need to pay dental premiums directly to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. rather than through payroll deduction. A glitch occurred May 1 when the TRICARE Dental Program changed providers from United Concordia to MetLife. The glitch affects reserve component members on orders for more than 30 days. They did not have their TRICARE dental premiums deducted from their reserve pay in April. MetLife mailed printed statements to the affected beneficiaries in early May. The beneficiaries will not lose coverage but are asked to make premium payments by check, electronic funds transfer or credit card until the payroll deduction option becomes available, said Army Brig. Gen. W. Bryan Gamble, deputy director of TRICARE Management Activity. If reservists wait for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service to collect the outstanding premium balance, they can expect to receive recurring letters from MetLife until payroll payment catches up. "The most important thing we want our reservists to remember is that MetLife and TMA have indicated no one will have services or benefits interrupted due to this glitch," said Lt. Col. Alexander Alex, reserve health benefits adviser for the directorate of health services for Air Force Reserve Command. The glitch affected about 8,000 National Guard and Reserve members throughout the Department of Defense. MetLife became the contract provider for the Reserve TRICARE Dental Program on May 1. The company automatically generated paper statements and sent them to the affected beneficiaries in early May, according to Lynn Head, a TMA contract representative. Defense finance officials, TRICARE Management Activity representatives and MetLife staffers say they are working out a long-term solution to the payroll deduction issue. MetLife will keep affected beneficiaries informed. Reservists who think they may be affected should check their leave and earnings statements. They can contact MetLife at 855-638-8371 if they have questions about their premium.