TRICARE

TRICARE is the DOD’s regionally managed health care program for Airmen and their families. Those eligible for TRICARE can choose from three options: TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Extra and TRICARE Standard. Information on these options is available on the TRICARE website at www.tricare.mil. This site also provides eligibility information as well as the most current details on TRICARE entitlements and eligibility.

TRICARE Reserve Select

The TRICARE Reserve Select premium-based health plan is available to National Guard and Reserve members who qualify for and purchase it. TRS is a voluntary, health care plan only available when Airmen are not eligible for any other non-premium-based TRICARE health coverage, such as when serving on active duty or if covered under the Transitional Assistance Management Program. Qualified Airmen may purchase Member-Only or Member-and-Family coverage.

Monthly premiums are at 28 percent of the full premium cost.

Previously, premiums were as much as 85 percent of the full premium cost. TRS offers coverage similar to TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra with deductibles and cost shares applied to both the Airman and family members under the TRS plan.

The plan offers all Airmen the option of obtaining coverage for member only or member and family. To be eligible to purchase coverage, Airmen must be serving in the Selected Reserve on the first day of coverage and must remain in the Selected Reserve for the entire period covered. There is no limitation on how long the Airman may obtain coverage as long as qualification requirements are met.

TRS benefits include routine outpatient care (doctor’s office visits); inpatient care (hospitalization); urgent and emergency care, including ambulance services; family health care including preventive screenings and immunizations; maternity services; behavioral health care including partial hospitalization and residential treatment; annual eye exams; laboratory and radiology services; durable medical equipment and supplies; and prescription drug coverage.

To participate in TRS, the Airmen and their family members must be registered in Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. If not already registered, the Airman must go to the nearest MPF - DEERS/RAPIDS location or call the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office at 800-538-9552 or go to the website www.tricare.mil/deersaddress to update details or to register.

A key change to the restructured TRS plan is how Airmen qualify for the program.

Since Oct. 1, 2007, TRS is available to all Airmen of the Selected Reserve regardless of any active duty served, with one exception: If Airmen are eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, as defined in Chapter 89 of Title 5 U.S.C., or are currently covered under FEHB, either under their own eligibility or through a family member, they are excluded from purchasing the restructured TRS plan. Once Airmen qualify, they may purchase the plan.

TRICARE Retired Reserve

TRR is a premium-based health plan that qualified Retired Reserve members and survivors may purchase. TRR offers coverage similar to TRICARE Standard and Extra.

Retired National Guard and Reserve personnel may qualify to purchase TRICARE Retired Reserve coverage if they are:

• members of the Retired Reserve or a Reserve component of the armed forces
• under the age of 60
• not eligible for, or enrolled in, the Federal Employees Health Benefits program

TRR is only available when you are not eligible for any other non-premium-based TRICARE health coverage. Qualified members may purchase Member-Only or Member-and-Family coverage.

If enrolling through the TRR web portal, log on and follow the prompts for completing the TRR enrollment request. Print the TRR Request, DD Form 2896-1, sign it, and send it to Humana Military along with the first two month’s premium payment within the specified deadline to begin coverage. Initial premiums can be paid by check, money order or cashier’s check made payable to Humana Military Healthcare Services, or by Visa®/MasterCard®.

If you are dis-enrolled for failure to pay or voluntarily terminate coverage, there is a one-year purchase lock-out. Dis-enrollments for loss of eligibility do not result in lock out and any excess fees paid for periods following the loss of eligibility will be refunded.

There are qualifying life events such as a birth, marriage or divorce which allow TRR family members to enroll with an effective date of the QLE as long as the enrollment request is received within 60 days of the event.

When you become eligible for TRICARE Prime/Standard/Extra at age 60, the TRR coverage is automatically terminated and you must submit a Prime enrollment form in order to enroll in Prime.

Transitioning from TRR to TRICARE Prime may result in a break in coverage - the 20th of the month rule applies to the submission of the Prime enrollment form. Once you are enrolled, you have two options for paying your monthly premiums.

• Electronic Fund Transfer /Automatic Bank Withdrawal
• Automatic Credit/Debit Card Withdrawal

NOTE: To simplify explanations, active duty status includes annual tour, active duty training, active duty support, military personnel appropriations funded active duty tour, reserve personnel appropriations funded active duty tour, extended active duty and active duty. National Guard and Reserve Airmen may need to present an ID card, orders, leave and earnings statement, AF Form 40A or letter of authorization or other documentation when using the services or facilities. Duty status, and, in some cases, length of tour, are primary or limiting factors in determining entitlements. This listing is not meant to imply that all benefits and entitlements are immediate or total. Check the regulations and instructions referenced for complete guidance.

The following notes should answer most questions.

• Line 3 -- Dental Services -- Dictated by space availability for other than emergency care. Guard and Reserve Airmen on IDTs are only authorized emergency care. Selected Reserve Airmen are eligible to enroll in the MetLife Reserve Dental Program, a DOD basic cost-share dental insurance program. For details, Airmen can call 855-638-8371.
• Line 4 -- Education Services -- Selected Reserve Airmen are eligible for enrollment in grade and career field appropriate correspondence courses only. Developmental Education by correspondence enrollment is accomplished by self-enrollment through the Air University Student Information System website located at https://ausis.maxwell.af.mil/SIS/app. Information on CDC enrollment for IMA members can be found on myPers and click on Training. Guard and unit reserve contact their unit education and training office. Selected Reserve are eligible to participate in the Community College of the Air Force and receive an Associate of Applied Science degree related to their career field. They may also be eligible for GI Bill benefits or tuition assistance. For more information contact the unit education services or retention office manager.
• Line 9 -- Medical Services -- Those not on EAD are only authorized treatment for injuries or illness occurring on duty or aggravated while performing duty.
• Line 10 -- Air Force Services Programs -- Includes arts and crafts, bowling centers, child care centers, golf courses, services logistics support branch, libraries, outdoor recreation, sports, recreation centers, youth activities and recreation membership clubs. Reserve Airmen are entitled to use all services class “C” facilities on the same basis as active duty.
• Line 11 -- Officer and NCO Open Mess -- Guard and Reserve Airmen are eligible for membership unless denied for lack of facility space or other justifiable cause specified by the mission support group commander. Contact the local club for details.
• Line 13 -- Red Cross -- On-base American Red Cross offices are staffed to handle active-duty Airmen only. Reservists should normally use off-base Red Cross offices.
• Line 14 -- Space-Available Travel -- Guard and Reserve Airmen are restricted to flights in the continental United States, and to, from and within Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, Samoa and the Virgin Islands.
  • Exception: Active Guard and Reserve Airmen in a leave or pass status who are on active duty in an overseas area for any length of time are eligible for Space-A travel.
    • Space-required travel can only be used if on active duty orders. It is only allowed if the Airman’s commander authorizes the issuance of a DD Form 1610, Request and Authorization for TDY Travel of DOD Personnel.
• Line 16 -- Transient Quarters -- Temporary lodging facilities and transient quarters are available to all Guard and Reserve Airmen not in a duty status and their family members on a space-available basis. Guard and Reserve Airmen are authorized priority lodging while on orders.
  NOTE: A Reserve retiree is a member who is entitled to retired pay. Before age 60, a Reserve retiree may be asked to present a Reserve Retirement Order or “Notification of Eligibility for Reserve Retired Pay” letter to obtain benefits.

A former spouse may receive a portion of the Airman’s retired pay depending on state law. The marriage must have lasted at least 10 years, and it must have overlapped a 10-year period during which the Airman earned creditable service for retirement in order for the former spouse to receive a direct payment from DFAS-Cleveland. If a marriage to the Airman lasted for 20 years and overlapped a period when the Airman earned 20 years of creditable service for retired pay, the former spouse may be entitled to an ID card authorizing medical care and exchange privileges on the Airman’s 60th birthday.

The following listing is not meant to imply that all benefits and entitlements are immediate or total. Check the regulations referenced for complete guidance. The following notes should answer most questions:

• Line 1 -- Retired pay -- Entitlement for Reserve retired pay may occur before age 60 if at least 90 days of qualifying active duty service is performed after Jan. 28, 2008.
• Line 10 -- Medical Services -- No TRICARE medical benefits are available before age 60 for Air Force Retirees. TRICARE Retired Reserve may be purchased for those members under age 60.
• Line 11-- Air Force Services Programs -- Include arts and crafts, bowling centers, child care centers, golf courses, services logistics support branch, libraries, outdoor recreation, sports, recreation centers, youth activities and recreation membership clubs. Reserve Airmen are entitled to use all services class “C” facilities on the same basis as active duty.
• Line 12 -- Officer and NCO Open Mess -- Airmen are eligible for membership unless denied for lack of facility space or other justifiable cause specified by the mission support group commander. Contact club for details.
• Line 14 -- American Red Cross -- On-base American Red Cross offices are staffed to handle active-duty Airmen only. Retirees should normally use off-base offices.
• Line 16 -- Space Available Travel -- Reserve retirees before age 60 are restricted to flights in the continental United States, and to, from and within Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, Samoa and the Virgin Islands. At age 60, the Airman and family members are eligible to travel to overseas locations.
• Line 18 -- Transient Quarters -- Temporary lodging facilities and transient quarters are available to all Air Force retirees and their family members on a space-available basis.
• NOTE: All benefits must be applied for or may be lost. In addition, they must be applied for within certain time limits. Family members should be advised to contact the Airman’s unit as soon as possible for assistance.

Also contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 800-827-1000 and Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213.

Duty status, and, in some cases, length of tour, are primary or limiting factors in determining entitlements. This list is not meant to imply that all benefits and entitlements are immediate or total. Check the regulations or other publications referenced for complete guidance.

To simplify the ANG/Reservist Survivor Benefits Table, it only shows the surviving spouse as eligible for benefits. However, children and, in some cases, dependent parents and parents-in-law may be eligible for benefits. The following notes should answer most questions:

• Line 2 -- Death Gratuity -- Payment is $100,000. Death gratuity may be paid to the surviving spouse of an Airman who dies of a service-connected cause within 120 days of release from active duty.
• Line 3 -- Mortuary Services -- Transportation of the remains of a retiree who dies while properly admitted to a military medical facility may be paid by the Air Force within certain limitations.
• Line 6 -- Survivor Benefit Plan -- Airmen on extended active duty or Air National Guard-Active Guard and Reserve, Title 32, U.S.C., don’t need to have more than 20 years active duty for benefit to be payable. Retiree must have elected coverage. The annuity may be offset by Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and Social Security.
• Line 7 -- Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan -- Should the Airman die after completing the requirements for retired pay at age 60, but before making an election under RCSBP during the 90-day response period, his or her survivors would be entitled to an annuity. Otherwise, benefits depend on election made by the Airman.
• Line 11 -- Medical Care and Tricare are available when the Airman would have been age 60.
• Line 12 -- Air Force Services Programs -- Includes arts and crafts, bowling alleys, child care centers, golf courses, services logistics support branch, libraries, recreation center and youth activities. The mission support group commander determines the priority use of services facilities based on the requirements of assigned personnel.
• Line 13 -- Officer, NCO and Airmen Open Mess -- Surviving spouse is eligible for an honorary membership as determined by the mission support group commander.
• Line 19 -- Air Force Aid Society -- For financial assistance for the surviving spouse, the Airman must have been on active duty for more than 90 days, does not include ANG-AGR Title 32 members. 
• Line 21 -- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation -- There is a monthly payment to the surviving spouse if the VA determines death to be service-connected.
• Line 22 -- CHAMPVA -- May be eligible for medical benefits from the VA if death is service-connected as determined by VA.
• Line 23 -- Survivor and Dependents Education and Home Loans -- May be eligible if death is service-connected as determined by the VA. 
• Line 24 -- Burial Benefits -- Burial flag and headstone may be provided by the VA. A burial allowance and plot or interment allowance may be payable if the Airman was entitled to VA pension or compensation at the time of death. In addition, plot or interment allowance may also be payable if the Airman was a veteran of a war or discharged with service-connected disability. 
• Line 25 -- National Cemetery -- Burial is available to the surviving spouse and dependent children of any deceased veteran of wartime or peacetime service who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. It is also available to the surviving spouse and dependent children of ANG/Reserve Airmen who completed 20 satisfactory years of service.
• Line 26 -- Nonservice Connected Death Pension -- Payment is based on income of dependents. Airman must have had 90 days wartime service before May 8, 1975.
• Line 28 -- Civil Service Preference -- An unmarried surviving spouse may be authorized a 10-point veterans service preference for federal service employment, if the veteran served during a war; served during the period April 28, 1952, through July 1, 1955; or served in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized.
• Line 29 -- State Benefits -- Check with state Veterans Affairs Office or local veterans’ organizations such as American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars or Disabled American Veterans. 
• Line 30 -- Air Force Village -- Officers -- Surviving spouse must have dependent ID card with full privileges, be age 62, and meet other requirements. For more information write to the Director of Admissions-AFV, 4917 Ravenswood Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78227. 
• Line 31 -- Air Force Enlisted Widows Home Foundation -- Surviving spouse must have dependent ID card with full privileges, be age 55, and meet other requirements. For more information write to AF EWHF, 571 Mooney Road, Fort Walton Beach Fla., 32548-1859.