Health Care Happenings

As a “grey area” reserve, I am thankful for one of MOAA’s significant legislative victories in this year’s defense bill.

Although authorized to begin on Oct. 1, 2009, TRICARE benefit changes typically take a year or so to implement so we anticipate seeing the tentatively named “TRICARE Retired Reserve” coverage by late summer or early fall 2010 as announced by TRICARE Officials earlier this week.

The retired reserve health care benefit will be provided under TRICARE Standard and Extra, similar to TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) but it differs in that it requires premiums equaling the full cost of the program; whereas, TRS premiums are 28% of the cost. We won’t know the exact cost of the premiums until the program rules are posted in the federal register.

What we do know is that the “grey-area” retiree will pay the retiree cost share/deductible and fall under the retiree catastrophic cap of $3000/family per FY. Additionally, they will be able to enroll as member only or member and immediate family.

We’ll keep you posted – so standby for further updates as we receive them!