thedrifter
08-27-07, 07:32 PM
New Tricare rules more flexible for reservists
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Aug 27, 2007 17:27:22 EDT
New rules for Tricare Reserve Select health insurance will allow eligible National Guard and reserve members to terminate coverage whenever they want and to add or remove family members whenever there is a birth, adoption or divorce.
Interim rules, which will take effect Oct. 1, apply to reserve health care benefits approved by Congress as part of the 2007 defense authorization bill, which made what had been a limited health care plan available to any drilling member of the Guard or reserve who pays the premium and is not covered by other federal employee insurance.
Final rules will not be announced before mid-September to allow for a mandatory comment period.
Eligible service members can select member-only or member-and-family coverage, with opportunities to modify coverage either during open enrollment periods or when there is a major event, such as a birth or adoption, a divorce or a spouse enrolling in another health plan, under the interim rules announced last week.
Coverage can be terminated whenever a member requests. If the Department of Defense terminates coverage because the monthly premium is not paid or not paid on time, the member would not be able to re-enroll for at least one year, under the interim policy.
Family members may not enroll in Tricare Reserve Select health insurance without also having their military sponsor enrolled, but the rules allow for six months of coverage after the death of a sponsor.
Ellie
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Aug 27, 2007 17:27:22 EDT
New rules for Tricare Reserve Select health insurance will allow eligible National Guard and reserve members to terminate coverage whenever they want and to add or remove family members whenever there is a birth, adoption or divorce.
Interim rules, which will take effect Oct. 1, apply to reserve health care benefits approved by Congress as part of the 2007 defense authorization bill, which made what had been a limited health care plan available to any drilling member of the Guard or reserve who pays the premium and is not covered by other federal employee insurance.
Final rules will not be announced before mid-September to allow for a mandatory comment period.
Eligible service members can select member-only or member-and-family coverage, with opportunities to modify coverage either during open enrollment periods or when there is a major event, such as a birth or adoption, a divorce or a spouse enrolling in another health plan, under the interim rules announced last week.
Coverage can be terminated whenever a member requests. If the Department of Defense terminates coverage because the monthly premium is not paid or not paid on time, the member would not be able to re-enroll for at least one year, under the interim policy.
Family members may not enroll in Tricare Reserve Select health insurance without also having their military sponsor enrolled, but the rules allow for six months of coverage after the death of a sponsor.
Ellie