thedrifter
11-03-06, 08:00 AM
November 02, 2006
New policy extends survivor benefits for kids
Payouts grandfathered to Oct. 7, 2001
By Gayle S. Putrich
Staff writer
Survivor health care benefits have been expanded under a new policy that took effect Tuesday.
Children of service members who die while on active duty will now stay in “transitional survivor status” for health care at active-duty payment rates until they marry or reach age 21 (age 23 if they are enrolled in school full time).
Previously, children of those who died on active duty received benefits at the active-duty payment rates for three years after the member’s death, after which the benefits package shifted to higher retiree payment rates.
The three-year limit on active-duty payment rates remains in effect for surviving spouses.
In transitional survivor status, eligible dependent children and spouses can enroll in the Tricare Prime Remote for Active Duty Family Members program, Overseas Prime or Global Remote. They are also eligible for active-duty-specific programs such as the Extended Care Health Option and hearing aids.
The changes, approved last year as part of the fiscal 2006 Defense Authorization Act, are retroactive for active-duty deaths back to Oct. 7, 2001.
Defense Department officials said Tricare will reprocess medical claims originally processed and paid at retiree rates and refund the difference between the retiree and active-duty rates for any enrollment fees, cost shares or co-payments that eligible beneficiaries have paid out since Oct 7, 2001.
The Pentagon has begun sending out letters to all active-duty survivors and children listed in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility System whose insurance sponsor died between Oct. 7, 2001, and Oct. 31, 2006, notifying them of the retroactive benefits to which they are entitled.
The three Tricare regional contractors can help beneficiaries process medical claims and obtain refunds.
More details on the updated survivor benefits are online.
www.tricare.osd.mil/survivors/default.cfm
Ellie
New policy extends survivor benefits for kids
Payouts grandfathered to Oct. 7, 2001
By Gayle S. Putrich
Staff writer
Survivor health care benefits have been expanded under a new policy that took effect Tuesday.
Children of service members who die while on active duty will now stay in “transitional survivor status” for health care at active-duty payment rates until they marry or reach age 21 (age 23 if they are enrolled in school full time).
Previously, children of those who died on active duty received benefits at the active-duty payment rates for three years after the member’s death, after which the benefits package shifted to higher retiree payment rates.
The three-year limit on active-duty payment rates remains in effect for surviving spouses.
In transitional survivor status, eligible dependent children and spouses can enroll in the Tricare Prime Remote for Active Duty Family Members program, Overseas Prime or Global Remote. They are also eligible for active-duty-specific programs such as the Extended Care Health Option and hearing aids.
The changes, approved last year as part of the fiscal 2006 Defense Authorization Act, are retroactive for active-duty deaths back to Oct. 7, 2001.
Defense Department officials said Tricare will reprocess medical claims originally processed and paid at retiree rates and refund the difference between the retiree and active-duty rates for any enrollment fees, cost shares or co-payments that eligible beneficiaries have paid out since Oct 7, 2001.
The Pentagon has begun sending out letters to all active-duty survivors and children listed in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility System whose insurance sponsor died between Oct. 7, 2001, and Oct. 31, 2006, notifying them of the retroactive benefits to which they are entitled.
The three Tricare regional contractors can help beneficiaries process medical claims and obtain refunds.
More details on the updated survivor benefits are online.
www.tricare.osd.mil/survivors/default.cfm
Ellie