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TRICARE Reserve Select
Here's
a snapshot of the new program. Many aspects of the program are not
changing. This section will focus on the changes that went into effect
on October 1, 2007.
Qualifying and Purchasing
To qualify for TRS, you must be a member of the Selected Reserve of the
Ready Reserve, and you cannot be eligible for or enrolled in the FEHB
program. Once you qualify, you may purchase the plan at any time
throughout the year, there are no tiers or open seasons. Qualifying for
and purchasing TRS is a 2-step process:
Step 1: Qualify
Log on to the Guard and Reserve Web Portal.
Click on the "TRICARE Reserve Select" box.
Select the type of coverage that you want to purchase: TRS Member-Only
or TRS Member-and-Family
Certify that you are not eligible for or enrolled in the FEHB program
Select when you want your coverage to begin
Print and sign the TRS Request Form (DD Form 2896-1) *This form can be
found in the Important Forms section!!!
Step 2: Purchase
Mail or fax your completed TRS Request Form along with the first month's
premium payment to your regional contractor by the applicable deadline.
Your coverage begins on the first day of the first or second month
(whichever you select on the TRS Request Form) following the postmark of
your TRS Request Form. For example, if your form is postmarked in July,
you may choose for your coverage to begin on the first day of the next
month, August, or on the first day of the second month, September.
Monthly Premiums and Other Costs
Your monthly premium rate is determined by the type of coverage you
purchase: TRS Member-Only or TRS Member-and-Family. TRS premiums are
adjusted annually effective January 1.
TRS Member-Only coverage is currently $81 per month.
TRS Member-and-Family coverage is currently $253 per month.
Premiums can be paid by check, money order or cashier's check (payable
to your regional contractor), or by Visa®/MasterCard®. After the initial
premium payment, your regional contractor will bill you by the 10th of
each month. Payments are due no later than the 30th of each month, and
payments are applied to the following month of coverage. Do not miss
payment; failure to pay overdue amounts by the deadline will result in
termination of coverage and debt collection.
Note: Other fees such as annual deductibles and cost shares are not
changing.
Covered Services
TRS covered services will not be changing, and continues to be
comparable to TRICARE Standard and Extra. You'll still be able to access
a wide variety of services from any TRICARE-authorized provider network
or non-network. Additionally, you'll be eligible for TRICARE's
prescription drug coverage.
Changes in Family Composition
You may change the type of TRS coverage, TRS Member-Only or TRS
Member-and-Family, with a qualifying life event:
Marriage
Birth or adoption
Placement of child in the legal custody of the member by order of the
court
Divorce or annulment
Death of a spouse or family member
Family member loses eligibility (e.g. child turns 21 or 23 if enrolled
in college)
Sponsors must report all qualifying life events to a military personnel
office and record the information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility
Reporting System (DEERS).
To change the TRS coverage, download a new TRS Request Form from the
Guard and Reserve Web Portal, complete the form, and submit it to your
regional contractor (postmarked) within 60 days of the qualifying life
event. The change in coverage is effective the date the qualifying life
event occurred.
Changes to your TRS coverage that don't involve a change in family
composition, (e.g., eligibility for other health coverage) can be made
at any
time during your enrollment in TRS.
Voluntary Disenrollment
You may choose to disenroll from TRS coverage at any time. If you want
to disenroll, do not just stop making payments. You must take the
following action to end your coverage:
Log on to the Guard and Reserve Web Portal.
Complete the TRS Request Form.
Print and mail your completed TRS Request Form to your regional
contractor.
A one-year TRS purchase lockout will apply if you voluntarily disenroll
from TRS, which means you will not be able to purchase TRS coverage for
up to one year. If you do not take action to disenroll and you simply
stop making premium payments, your coverage terminates. However, you are
still responsible for any premium amounts that are due prior to the date
you were officially terminated from TRS.
Disenrollment Due to Change in Status
When you're activated you and your family become eligible for TRICARE
(without premiums) and your TRS coverage is automatically terminated.
When you deactivate and lose eligibility for TRICARE (without premiums),
you may purchase TRS with no break in coverage as long as you
re-qualify. Submit your completed TRS Request Form with a premium
payment postmarked no later than 60 days after the loss of the TRICARE
coverage. Your TRS coverage begins on the day after the loss of other
TRICARE coverage.
Your TRS coverage will also be automatically terminated if you leave the
Selected Reserve. You may purchase TRS coverage again if you re-qualify.
Termination Due to Non-Payment
Your payment is due no later than the 30th day of each month. Your
payment will apply to the following month of coverage. Failure to pay
monthly premiums on time will result in termination of coverage, but you
must still pay any overdue amounts. (This may result in up to two months
of overdue premium payments.) The government pursues collection action
for overdue and delinquent premiums and may notify your
commander and collect overdue and delinquent amounts from your National
Guard or Reserve pay. Termination of coverage due to non-payment will
result in a TRS purchase lockout for one year or until overdue premiums
are paid, whichever is longer.
Survivor Coverage
If a National Guard and Reserve member is covered by TRS on the day of
his or her death, surviving family members may purchase or continue TRS
coverage for an additional six months from the date of the member's
death.
If TRS Member-and-Family coverage is in effect at the time of death,
DEERS will automatically convert the TRS Member-and-Family coverage to
TRS survivor coverage.
If TRS Member-Only coverage is in effect at the time of death, the
coverage will terminate and survivors may purchase TRS survivor coverage
within 60 days.
Survivors are responsible for paying appropriate monthly premiums.
TRICARE Important Telephone Numbers
TRICARE For Life Program 1-888-DOD-LIFE (1-888-363-5433)
Pharmacy Program 1-877-DOD-MEDS (1-877-363-6337)
National Mail Order Pharmacy 1-800-903-4680 (1-888-DOD-CARE)
TRICARE Prime Remote (1-888-363-2273)
TRICARE Dental Program 1-800-866-8499
Retiree Dental Program 1-888-838-8737
Active Duty Claims (Military Medical Support Office) 1-800-876-1131
For general information about TRICARE, you can call the toll-free
TRICARE information line: 1-877-DoD-MEDS (1-877-363-6337).
Hearing or speech-impaired beneficiaries may call TTY/TDD at
1-877-535-6778.
You can call Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00
a.m.-8:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (closed on holidays).
A helpful link for more information can be found below:
http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/Download/...GR_Flyer_07.pdf
Points of Contact for individual Reserve and Guard components can be
found at the address below:
http://www.defenselink.mil/ra/html/tricare.html
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