Tricare?
- Thread starter moon52
- Start date
If you are medically retired in the Army Reserves with a condition that is duty related you would qualify for Tricare for retirees. You can choose Tricare Select or if in a eligible geographic area prime. If you already have FEHB then you can use tricare a secondary insurance. if you are paying premiums for it then you can cancel it and just rely on Tricare. You can get dental and vision through FEDVIP which is the same options you have. There is a cost but you can choose the plan that works best for your family.
I prefer Tricare Select since you don't need referrals to see anyone. Just make sure the provider or specialist accept Tricare and you are good. For medical retirees the annual fee for Tricare select is waived.
Here is the link for retirees: https://tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility/RSMandFamilies
Thank you for the response. I was trying to see which ones specifically. I clicked on one, I think retired reserve and said I am not eligible if I have FEHB. I would want to drop FEHB as I pay 800 a month now.
Thanks for the link
I never knew you couldn’t switch back. I figured you would just have to wait until open season. Do you have source material for that?
Looking at cost even for high deductible I would think tricare would still be a better deal.
It was originally explained to me that switching was only allowed once. Apparently that information was only partially correct. If you "cancel" your FEHB during FERs retirement it is permanent with little exceptions. However, a search is now showing one can "suspend" for Tricare and later return to FEHB.... Be careful though as I read through it further choices could still permanently end your FEHB in retirement when switching things at the wrong time such as when transitioning into retirement.
And Provis was correct, in retirement Tricare can be a secondary to FEHB.
"We have published a final regulation that allows current FEHB annuitants and former spouses who are eligible for these programs to suspend their FEHB coverage and premium payments. The regulation allows these individuals to reenroll in the FEHB Program during the Open Season, or immediately if they are involuntarily disenrolled from the non-FEHB coverage."
After I suspend my FEHB coverage to use TRICARE or CHAMPVA instead, when can I reenroll in the FEHB Program?
You can reenroll in the FEHB Program for any reason during a future Open Season. If you are involuntarily disenrolled from TRICARE or CHAMPVA, you are eligible to immediately reenroll in the FEHB Program. Your request to reenroll must be received within the period beginning 31 days before and ending 60 days after your TRICARE or CHAMPVA coverage ends. Otherwise, you must wait until Open Season.
Be careful of this rule...
Yes. There are a few things an employee should consider. First, to be eligible to continue FEHB coverage after retirement, a retiring employee must be enrolled or covered under the FEHB Program for the five years of service immediately before retirement, or, if less than five years, for all service since the first opportunity to enroll. Employees can count their coverage under TRICARE toward meeting this requirement. However, the employee must be enrolled in an FEHB health plan on the date of retirement to continue coverage.
Second, if the employee dies when the cancellation is in effect, any surviving spouse will not be eligible to continue FEHB health benefits coverage.
(@Provis if you want to delete my earlier post in this conversation that would be appreciated as I was incorrect. Thank you.)
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I deleted the post. Just curious though.. Why would anyone pay for FEHB coverage if they can get Tricare Prime or Select free of charge for themselves and family for life? I have a hard time thinking its worth paying a monthly premium to carry additional insurance. Even a high deductible policy would cost hundreds of dollars per month for a family of 4.It was originally explained to me that switching was only allowed once. Apparently that information was only partially correct. If you "cancel" your FEHB during FERs retirement it is permanent with little exceptions. However, a search is now showing one can "suspend" for Tricare and later return to FEHB.... Be careful though as I read through it further choices could still permanently end your FEHB in retirement when switching things at the wrong time such as when transitioning into retirement.
And Provis was correct, in retirement Tricare can be a secondary to FEHB.
"We have published a final regulation that allows current FEHB annuitants and former spouses who are eligible for these programs to suspend their FEHB coverage and premium payments. The regulation allows these individuals to reenroll in the FEHB Program during the Open Season, or immediately if they are involuntarily disenrolled from the non-FEHB coverage."
After I suspend my FEHB coverage to use TRICARE or CHAMPVA instead, when can I reenroll in the FEHB Program?
You can reenroll in the FEHB Program for any reason during a future Open Season. If you are involuntarily disenrolled from TRICARE or CHAMPVA, you are eligible to immediately reenroll in the FEHB Program. Your request to reenroll must be received within the period beginning 31 days before and ending 60 days after your TRICARE or CHAMPVA coverage ends. Otherwise, you must wait until Open Season.
Be careful of this rule...
Yes. There are a few things an employee should consider. First, to be eligible to continue FEHB coverage after retirement, a retiring employee must be enrolled or covered under the FEHB Program for the five years of service immediately before retirement, or, if less than five years, for all service since the first opportunity to enroll. Employees can count their coverage under TRICARE toward meeting this requirement. However, the employee must be enrolled in an FEHB health plan on the date of retirement to continue coverage.
Second, if the employee dies when the cancellation is in effect, any surviving spouse will not be eligible to continue FEHB health benefits coverage.
(@Provis if you want to delete my earlier post in this conversation that would be appreciated as I was incorrect. Thank you.)
Thank you. Previously, I was approaching the topic from the standpoint of being employed. Even though I was retired via FERs years ago, I only just now retired from the Army. As I'm learning about all these changes, I cannot come up with a good reason to remain on FEHB over Tricare when one is retired under Chapter 61. Really it's just for my wife as I go to the VA predominantly with a few exceptions of some urgent care visits. I just want to ensure that she gets to go to the places that she prefers. Beyond that from a cost perspective, it looks great.
@Provis
Figure out where my mistake was.... I was previously only eligible for Tricare Reserve Select and FEHB which is why I was told I could not switch. About 15 years ago I was attempting to transfer over after coming off deployment. However, I was denied and just forgot the exact reason. It was just so much cheaper to be on Tricare.
"You can buy TRICARE Reserve Select if you're a member of the Selected Reserve who isn't:
Figure out where my mistake was.... I was previously only eligible for Tricare Reserve Select and FEHB which is why I was told I could not switch. About 15 years ago I was attempting to transfer over after coming off deployment. However, I was denied and just forgot the exact reason. It was just so much cheaper to be on Tricare.
"You can buy TRICARE Reserve Select if you're a member of the Selected Reserve who isn't:
- On active duty orders
- Covered under the Transitional Assistance Management Program; and
- Eligible for or enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program."
Glad you figured it out. I know it can be beneficial to not lose federal health insurance if you have to pay the unsubsidized tricare monthly premiums. I was scratchin my head though because the OP was getting Tricare for free due to medical retirement. LOL
And soon my family will be too thanks to you guys and these conversations.