Tricare Essay
Tricare or CHAMPUS is a health insurance program that is for spouses and dependents of active duty military personnel as well as retired military and their family.
There are different plans with this program. They are called TRICARE Prime, Standard and Global Remote Overseas. Also, a Medicare program is available for retired military personnel, which is called TRICARE for Life. Each plan has different benefits and eligibility requirements. TRICARE Prime is used for members who must travel more than 100 miles from their primary care doctor to receive special care. Beneficiaries are reimbursed for certain travel costs like lodging and meals. These types of expenses are reimbursed up to the government rate. The average cost for this type of TRICARE plan is around $538 per year for a member and their family. There are fewer out of pocket costs, vision and no enrollment fees just an annual fee ("Military.com benefits," 2013). TRICARE Standard means that if the military treatment facility near the person needing care cannot provide proper inpatient care the person must ask the facility for a non availability statement. A non availability statement means the hospital must certify that it cannot provide the care needed and then the person can go to another hospital that is not a military facility, but TRI CARE may not pay for the total visit. TRICARE Standard only helps pay for care that comes from recognized providers. Non network providers can be used with this plan but members will pay higher cost shares. Costs of this plan vary based on the person’s military status and after the deductible the member is responsible to pay a percentage. This plan is called a fee for service option. Members are allowed to choose from many more providers but will have higher out of pocket costs ("Tricare plans and," 2013). TRICARE Global Remote Overseas is a TRICARE Prime option that is only for members in remote areas overseas and members must be actively in the
There are different plans with this program. They are called TRICARE Prime, Standard and Global Remote Overseas. Also, a Medicare program is available for retired military personnel, which is called TRICARE for Life. Each plan has different benefits and eligibility requirements. TRICARE Prime is used for members who must travel more than 100 miles from their primary care doctor to receive special care. Beneficiaries are reimbursed for certain travel costs like lodging and meals. These types of expenses are reimbursed up to the government rate. The average cost for this type of TRICARE plan is around $538 per year for a member and their family. There are fewer out of pocket costs, vision and no enrollment fees just an annual fee ("Military.com benefits," 2013). TRICARE Standard means that if the military treatment facility near the person needing care cannot provide proper inpatient care the person must ask the facility for a non availability statement. A non availability statement means the hospital must certify that it cannot provide the care needed and then the person can go to another hospital that is not a military facility, but TRI CARE may not pay for the total visit. TRICARE Standard only helps pay for care that comes from recognized providers. Non network providers can be used with this plan but members will pay higher cost shares. Costs of this plan vary based on the person’s military status and after the deductible the member is responsible to pay a percentage. This plan is called a fee for service option. Members are allowed to choose from many more providers but will have higher out of pocket costs ("Tricare plans and," 2013). TRICARE Global Remote Overseas is a TRICARE Prime option that is only for members in remote areas overseas and members must be actively in the
References: Military.com benefits. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.military.com/benefits Tricare plans and programs. (2013, March 20). Retrieved from http://www.humana-military.com/south/bene/tricare-plans.asp Overseas region. (2013, April 08). Retrieved from http://tricare.mil/overseas/ Tricare overview. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.militaryauthority.com/benefits/health-care/tricare/ Moisio, M. A. (2008). A guide to health insurance billing. (2nd ed.). Clifton Park, New York: Delmar Pub.