Gray-area Tricare enrollments start Sept. 1 - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

Gray-area Tricare enrollments start Sept. 1

Enrollments begin Sept. 1 for a new Tricare insurance plan aimed at so-called “gray area” National Guard and reserve retirees who are eligible for, but not yet receiving, military retired pay.

The program is launching about a month earlier than Tricare Management Agency officials previously had predicted.

Called the Tricare Reserve Retiree Program, the new insurance benefit will cost $388.31 per month for single coverage and $976.41 per month for family coverage through the end of the calendar year.

On Jan. 1, monthly premiums will increase to $408.01 for single coverage and $1,020.50 for family coverage.

The program is not available to anyone enrolled in or eligible for federal employee health benefits.

The premiums are much higher than were expected by military and veterans organizations that had advocated for health care benefits to cover the period between the end of military service and the start of retired pay — which for most Guard and reserve members is age 60.

About 180,000 Guard and reserve retirees are in the “gray” area where their service has ended but their retirement benefits have not started. But the high premiums are likely to result in very few sign-ups for the new military health benefits unless individuals have no other available coverage, advocates for reserve health benefits said.

Major military groups are hoping to get Congress interested in reviewing the health premiums when lawmakers return to work on Sept. 13 after a summer break.

In addition to the monthly premiums, those enrolled in the new program must meet an annual deductible before health costs are covered. The current annual deductible is $150 for individual coverage and $300 for family coverage.

They also must make a copayment of 20 percent of the negotiated rate for services provided from within the Tricare network and higher fees for out-of-network services.

Still, military officials said the program can be helpful to retirees who do not have other health benefits.

DISCUSS: TRICARE GRAY-AREA