FAQ's About TRICARE For Life

From: WASP188@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 4:18 PM
Subject: FAQ's About TRICARE For Life

Q. Do I need a beneficiary card to receive health benefits under TRICARE For Life?

A. No. A TRICARE For Life beneficiary card is not necessary to receive care and enrollment is not required. When you receive care from a civilian provider, our provider will usually file claims with Medicare. Medicare will pay its portion, then automatically forward the claim to TRICARE for the remaining amount. TRICARE will send its payment directly to your provider. You will receive an explanation of benefits (EOB) that indicates the amount paid to your provider. To be eligible for the expanded TRICARE coverage, uniformed services retirees, eligible family members and survivors, need to be registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). They also must be eligible for Medicare Part A, and purchased Medicare B.

Q. Is my ID Card still O.K. even though it says "No civilian medical care after age 65?"

A.Yes. If you become Medicare eligible while your present ID card is valid, it is not necessary to have a new card issued as long as your DEERS information is current. The best way to verify TRICARE eligibility in DEERS and to obtain a current ID card is to go to an ID card issuing facility. Its personnel can provide information about the documentation that is necessary, its address and hours of operation. If it is not possible for a beneficiary to go to an ID card facility, he or she should contact DEERS at 1-800-538-9552 for guidance. Information about the nearest ID card facility can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl, or by calling TRICARE's toll-free number, 1-888-DOD-LIFE (1-888-363-5433).

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SOURCE:  TRICARE web page at http://www.tricare.osd.mil