TRICARE Reserve Select deadline extended

  • Published
  • By TriWest Healthcare Alliance
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Did you miss the Sept. 30 deadline to re-enroll into TRICARE Reserve Select? Previously enrolled and eligible Reserve Component members still have until Nov. 29 to re-enroll in TRS and still have continuous TRICARE coverage.

Members who want a retroactive coverage effective date of Oct. 1 must include the premium payments for all months of coverage. If a member lost TRS coverage Sept. 30, submits the enrollment form Nov. 16 and elects continuous coverage back-dated to Oct. 1, they must submit monthly premiums for October, November and December.

Eligible beneficiaries may also sign up for automatic monthly premium payments by electronic funds transfer or recurring credit card through the "Online Payment" link at www.triwest.com.

New Enrollees
The Nov. 29 (60 days after Sept. 30) deadline is for members previously enrolled in TRS that wish to purchase TRS coverage with an effective date of Oct. 1. Eligible Reserve Component members may submit the TRS Request Form at any time under the continuous open enrollment and may choose to start coverage the first of the following month or the month after that.

Eligibility
Member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve may qualify to purchase coverage under TRS program. For those Selected Reserve members who are also eligible for coverage, or are already covered, under a Federal Employee Healthcare Benefit program are not eligible to enroll into the new TRS plan.

If the Selected Reserve member's spouse is enrolled in a FEHB program, but the member is not covered, then the member may qualify to purchase TRS coverage.

Those who are eligible for FEHB (and therefore not eligible for TRS) include:
- Federal employees
- Congressional employees
- National Guard technicians
- Retired Federal employees
- For more information and a more inclusive list: http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/05C89.txt

TRS program features
- One premium level--currently, individual coverage is $81 per month and family coverage is $253 per month (premiums are subject to change annually Jan. 1) for all TRS enrollees
- A continuous open TRS enrollment period--qualified members may purchase coverage at any time when not on active duty orders
- Continuing coverage--after the loss of a non-premium TRICARE program (for instance, losing coverage coming off of active duty), eligible beneficiaries can enroll in TRS within 60 days to avoid a break in coverage
- A choice of coverage start date--for example, if the enrollment form (with payment) is submitted to TriWest Jan. 29, the member can choose to start coverage on either Feb. 1 or March 1

Enroll online and purchase coverage
1. Log into the Guard and Reserve Web Portal (https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/trs/)
2. Confirm eligibility for the TRS program
3. Print out and sign the TRS Request Form (DD Form 2896-1)
4. Mail the document along with the appropriate premium payment to TriWest Healthcare Alliance (P.O. Box 42048, Phoenix, Ariz. 85080-2048) postmarked no later than Nov. 30
5. Or fax the enrollment form to TriWest (credit card payments only, fill out box 6 on the TRS Request Form) at 1-866-441-8843 no later than Nov. 29

Coverage under TRS
Health care coverage under TRS is similar to coverage under TRICARE Standard and Extra and includes deductibles, cost-shares and a $1,000 cap on the yearly maximum out-of-pocket expenses for covered medical services.

TRS enrollees (individuals and family members) have the freedom to access care from any TRICARE-authorized, certified or network provider or hospital and may request care at a military treatment facility on a space-available basis.

Important contact information
- Enroll in TRICARE Reserve Select - https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/trs/
- For Assistance with the Guard and Reserve portal - 1-800-3-RAPIDS (800-372-7437)
- Reserve component points of contact - www.defenselink.mil/ra/html/tricare.html
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance - www.triwest.com or 1-888-TRIWEST (888-874-9378)
- TriWest TRS enrollment fax - 1-866-441-8843
- TriWest's Guard and Reserve resource center - www.triwest.com/unauth/content/ngr/
- TRICARE - www.tricare.mil