Q&A: Moving and Your TRICARE Coverage (2024)

FAQs

Q&A: Moving and Your TRICARE Coverage? ›

A QLE opens a 90-day period for you and your family to make eligible enrollment changes, as described in the TRICARE Qualifying Life Events Fact Sheet. This means you have 90 days from the date of your move to change your plan. You must change your address in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

You can only switch plans during the TRICARE Open Season or with a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). Changes you make during the TRICARE Open Season go into effect January 1 of the following year.

If you don't pay your TRICARE Prime enrollment fees (if applicable), the TRICARE contractor will disenroll you. You have 90 days from the date you were disenrolled to catch up on any missed payments.

Military retirees can continue TRICARE coverage indefinitely after leaving the service, but generally speaking, other veterans cannot. When you leave the service, you may be surprised at the how much civilian health care actually costs.

Your TRICARE eligibility doesn't change when you move. But it may change your health plan options. Keep these things in mind when you know you're about to move: Don't disenroll from any plan before you move.

How Do I File a Change of Address for a Military Address? If you are moving to or from a Military (APO/FPO/DPO) address, you can complete your Change of Address (COA) form in one of two ways: Online at https://moversguide.usps.com, or. In person via hard-copy PS Form 3575 at a local Post Office™ location.

20/20/15: Under the 20/20/15 rule, you keep TRICARE health care benefits for one year if: You were married to the service member for at least 20 years, The service member served in the armed forces for at least 20 years, and. The marriage and the period of service overlapped for at least 15 years.

A Qualifying Life Event (QLE) is a certain change in your life, such as moving, marriage, birth of a child, or retirement from active duty.

TRICARE benefits include covering Medicare's coinsurance and deductible for services covered by Medicare and TRICARE. When retired service members or eligible family members reach age 65 and are eligible for Medicare, they become eligible for TRICARE For Life and are no longer able to enroll in other TRICARE plans.

Why are doctors dropping TRICARE? ›

The problem stems from the fact that most Tricare managed care support contractors have negotiated physician reimbursem*nt rates that are even lower than those paid by Medicare. Unhappy with their fees, some major health care provider groups have simply dropped out of the system.

VA care for service-connected illnesses and injuries is free, but other care may not be. Depending on your priority group and the type of care needed, you may be charged copays for different treatments, services, and prescriptions.

If you lose your other health insurance, TRICARE becomes your primary payer. If you have TRICARE for Life, TRICARE becomes the second payer. You must inform your doctor and contractor by completing and returning this form.

There's a common misconception that one of the advantages of joining the armed forces is free health care for life. While the military does provide excellent health care benefits, it's not always free – and not all veterans get health insurance.

You need to be eligible for TRICARE

Since Medicare eligibility typically starts at 65, that generally means you are either retired military or the spouse of a retired TRICARE sponsor; other separated personnel and family members are not typically eligible for TRICARE health plans, and so don't qualify for TFL.

If a surviving spouse, widow or eligible former spouse remarries, they will lose eligibility for TRICARE. They can retain TRICARE if they marry another uniformed service member. The loss of eligibility for TRICARE will also result in the loss of transitional survivor status.

You can update your address and/or phone number on your DEERS record by going to the IDCO Online are made in DEERS. Note: If you are covered by TRICARE, you might prefer to make changes that affect your coverage options (such as your residence address) in Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE).

Provider groups who need to add a provider or multiple providers to their practice can submit an updated TRICARE Provider Roster to PDMRoster@hnfs.com or complete and fax a Provider Information Form (PIF) to 1-844-224-0381.

Go to the Family Members list and select whose PCM you want to change. On the Medical Enrollments tab, select the "Change PCM" button. On the “Change PCM” page, select the reason you want to change your PCM. On the “Change PCM - Select Provider Type” page, select a provider type.