Tricare extends deadline for reimbursement claims
Stars and Stripes
European edition, Thursday, January 29, 2009

Tricare Management Activity extended until March the "timely filing waiver" deadline for services patients received before Dec. 31, 2007, to let providers, beneficiaries and others living overseas additional time to submit overdue claims for reimbursement, according to a news release.

The original deadline had been Dec. 31.

The late filings from overseas patients happened because some countries give host-nation health care professionals as long as three years to file claims for reimbursement, while Tricare required beneficiaries to file claims within one year from the date of service or inpatient discharge, the release stated.

Under the extension, overdue or "untimely" claims filed by providers and beneficiaries must be received no later than March 31 by Wisconsin Physician Services, Tricare’s overseas claims processor.

To file an overdue claim, beneficiaries must mail a completed DD Form 2642 with a copy of the itemized bill and receipts to WPS.

The company maintains several post office boxes for overseas claims, based on overseas area and beneficiary category. To find the correct address: check the Tricare Overseas Program Handbook; enter a profile on the Tricare Web site at http://tricare.mil/mybenefit/ and link to claims information; see http://tricare4u.com; or contact the appropriate overseas area office found on www.tricare.mil/contactus.

Ellie