thedrifter
09-03-07, 08:49 AM
Reservists must re-enroll for Tricare by Sept. 30
By Karen Jowers - kjowers@militarytimes.com
Posted : September 10, 2007
Members of the National Guard and reserve who are enrolled in Tricare Reserve Select must take action before Sept. 30 to ensure their health care coverage is not dropped, due to the advent of a redesigned program.
“It is extremely important for existing Tricare Reserve Select members to take care of the new enrollment now,” said Tricare spokeswoman Bonnie Powell. “As of Sept. 30, everyone in the program — except for those covered under survivor benefits — will be disenrolled from the old program. They must enroll in the new program before Oct. 1, and they are urged to do it now to allow time for processing.”
This affects about 11,000 Guard and reserve sponsors who are enrolled in the old Tricare Reserve Select program, with a total of about 33,000 beneficiaries, she said. Tricare officials mailed letters in July informing them about the changes and the steps to take to continue coverage.
Reserve and Guard members can enroll in the new Tricare Reserve Select program at /www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/trs.
The letters noted that members must enroll no later than 60 days after the current coverage ends Sept. 30 to avoid any break in health care coverage, but it is not clear what happens if someone is disenrolled.
“There will most likely be provisions for those who did not know they needed to purchase coverage under the restructured program before Oct. 1, but being disenrolled for even a few days could cause problems if a family member needs emergency care. ... A few minutes to enroll now will prevent a lot of time and inconvenience later on trying to straighten out their critical health care coverage,” Powell said.
Those who register online must also fax or mail a signed form by Sept. 30, along with the payment for the first month’s premium.
The reason everyone has to be disenrolled from the system, Powell said, is a requirement in law that excludes anyone from Tricare Reserve Select who is eligible for the federal government’s Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. “We need the signed form that they are not eligible” for FEHBP, Powell said.
The new program streamlines the coverage — offering the same monthly premium for any qualified member of the Selected Reserve, rather than the old three-tier premium system. It also provides continuously open enrollment, with coverage beginning on the first day of the first or second month, depending on your choice, following the month when your request form is postmarked.
The new program also provides expanded coverage for survivors, allowing for six months of coverage after the death of a service member. More information is available at www.tricare.mil.
The disenrollment is what is puzzling some advocates for reservists and their families. “It’s unnecessary for DoD to take the position they are going to disenroll everybody,” said Frank Yoakum, legislative director of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard. He said there are several ways defense officials could have handled it, including doing a data match between those enrolled in Tricare Reserve Select, and the FEHBP program. He notes the insurance is critical for many reserve and Guard families who do not have other health insurance available to them in their civilian workplace, which is a key reason the program was created.
“The folks at Tricare are going to have to do everything they can to make sure families realize they have to be proactive,” said Kathy Moakler, director of government relations for the National Military Family Association. Her association has been putting the word out to its members, she said.
She notes that the Reserve Tricare program is a Tricare Standard program, so those enrolled will have to pay co-pays and deductibles. But if the service member is called to active duty, he will be eligible for Tricare Prime, with lower co-pays and no deductibles.
Ellie
By Karen Jowers - kjowers@militarytimes.com
Posted : September 10, 2007
Members of the National Guard and reserve who are enrolled in Tricare Reserve Select must take action before Sept. 30 to ensure their health care coverage is not dropped, due to the advent of a redesigned program.
“It is extremely important for existing Tricare Reserve Select members to take care of the new enrollment now,” said Tricare spokeswoman Bonnie Powell. “As of Sept. 30, everyone in the program — except for those covered under survivor benefits — will be disenrolled from the old program. They must enroll in the new program before Oct. 1, and they are urged to do it now to allow time for processing.”
This affects about 11,000 Guard and reserve sponsors who are enrolled in the old Tricare Reserve Select program, with a total of about 33,000 beneficiaries, she said. Tricare officials mailed letters in July informing them about the changes and the steps to take to continue coverage.
Reserve and Guard members can enroll in the new Tricare Reserve Select program at /www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/trs.
The letters noted that members must enroll no later than 60 days after the current coverage ends Sept. 30 to avoid any break in health care coverage, but it is not clear what happens if someone is disenrolled.
“There will most likely be provisions for those who did not know they needed to purchase coverage under the restructured program before Oct. 1, but being disenrolled for even a few days could cause problems if a family member needs emergency care. ... A few minutes to enroll now will prevent a lot of time and inconvenience later on trying to straighten out their critical health care coverage,” Powell said.
Those who register online must also fax or mail a signed form by Sept. 30, along with the payment for the first month’s premium.
The reason everyone has to be disenrolled from the system, Powell said, is a requirement in law that excludes anyone from Tricare Reserve Select who is eligible for the federal government’s Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. “We need the signed form that they are not eligible” for FEHBP, Powell said.
The new program streamlines the coverage — offering the same monthly premium for any qualified member of the Selected Reserve, rather than the old three-tier premium system. It also provides continuously open enrollment, with coverage beginning on the first day of the first or second month, depending on your choice, following the month when your request form is postmarked.
The new program also provides expanded coverage for survivors, allowing for six months of coverage after the death of a service member. More information is available at www.tricare.mil.
The disenrollment is what is puzzling some advocates for reservists and their families. “It’s unnecessary for DoD to take the position they are going to disenroll everybody,” said Frank Yoakum, legislative director of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard. He said there are several ways defense officials could have handled it, including doing a data match between those enrolled in Tricare Reserve Select, and the FEHBP program. He notes the insurance is critical for many reserve and Guard families who do not have other health insurance available to them in their civilian workplace, which is a key reason the program was created.
“The folks at Tricare are going to have to do everything they can to make sure families realize they have to be proactive,” said Kathy Moakler, director of government relations for the National Military Family Association. Her association has been putting the word out to its members, she said.
She notes that the Reserve Tricare program is a Tricare Standard program, so those enrolled will have to pay co-pays and deductibles. But if the service member is called to active duty, he will be eligible for Tricare Prime, with lower co-pays and no deductibles.
Ellie