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Blackanthem Military News FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Monumental outreach efforts are ensuring that nearly all of the 11,000 TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) members under the “tier” version of TRS will stay covered under the restructured program. As of October 1, approximately 90 percent had either switched over to the new program—or were in the process.
The restructured TRS has also attracted interest from members of the Selected Reserves not previously covered under the tier program and nearly 10,000 have begun the process of qualifying for TRS.
On September 30, all current members in the tier program were disenrolled as the restructured TRS went into effect October 1 under changes mandated by the 2007 National Defense Authorization Act. Despite an instruction letter sent out in early August, less than half had transferred to the restructured program by mid-September.
“All of our TRS partners made a monumental effort to reach out and touch the National Guard and Reserve members who rely on TRS for their health care needs,” said Army Major General (MG) Elder Granger, Deputy Director, TRICARE Management Activity. “We did not want to see anyone disenrolled without doing everything possible.”
“Monumental” means up to three separate contacts via direct United States mail, a major military media campaign and even phone calls to TRS members from Reserve Component personnel and TRICARE managed care support contractors (MCSCs).
The few remaining Tier TRS members who still have not heard about the need to make the switch will not be left out in the cold. They have a 60-day window to qualify for the new program with coverage retroactive to October 1 under a new provision called continuation coverage. “But it was important to try and get everyone switched over before September 30 to avoid putting beneficiaries through the inconveniences that can result from disenrollment,” said MG Granger.
The number of new TRS members represents a moving target as it climbs daily. “TRICARE and all of our partners have an ongoing media and outreach campaign to let Selected Reserve members know about TRS,” said MG Granger. “Already, the number of Selected Reservists purchasing coverage is nearly double the average number of members in the old TRS.”
With the end of the complicated tier program and its many qualifications, the majority of National Guard and Reserve members in the Selected Reserve are now eligible for TRS at a monthly premium of $81 for the Service member only and $253 for the Service member and their family. Coverage is comparable to TRICARE Standard and Extra. The restructured TRS also features continuously open enrollment.
National Guard and Reserve members must be in the Selected Reserve to be eligible for TRS. There is an important exclusion: Selected Reserve members cannot be eligible for Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), or currently covered under FEHB (either under their own eligibility or through a family member).
Members of the Selected Reserve can find out about TRS costs, what’s covered, and how to purchase coverage through the “My Benefit” portal at www.tricare.mil.
Selected Reserve members who wish to see if they are qualified to purchase TRS coverage under the restructured program should go to the TRS Web application at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/trs/ and follow the instructions.
If qualified, the member can print out the TRS Request Form; attest that they are not eligible for or covered by an FEHB plan; then send the form with one month’s premium to the appropriate TRICARE regional MCSC.
National Guard and Reserve members may also contact their Reserve Component if they have additional questions about eligibility for TRS.
About The TRICARE Management Activity
The TRICARE Management Activity, the Department of Defense agency that administers the health care plan for the Uniformed Services, retirees and their families, serves more than 9.1 million eligible beneficiaries worldwide.
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FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Monumental outreach efforts are ensuring that nearly all of the 11,000 TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) members under the “tier” version of TRS will stay covered under the restructured program. As of October 1, approximately 90 percent had either switched over to the new program—or were in the process.
