Q. While my wife and I were on a vacation cruise, my wife fell during a shore excursion in Mexico. She was treated by the physician on the cruise ship for a hand fracture, a forehead laceration and a chest contusion. She has required followup by an orthopedic surgeon for the fracture since returning home. Is she eligible for reimbursement of the medical expenses incurred aboard the cruise ship? If so, to whom do I submit the medical statement?
A. The emergency care your wife required aboard ship is definitely reimbursable. You need to work that through the managed-care contractor for the Tricare region in which you live. Customer service contacts for all Tricare regions may be found here: www.tricare.mil/ContactUs/CallUs.aspx
Basic details on how Tricare deals with travel-related health care issues are here: www.tricare.mil/GettingCare/Traveling.aspx
Q. I'm getting administratively separated with a general discharge after seven years of service. Will I be able to maintain Tricare health care and prescription drug coverage for any period after my discharge?
A. The military's Transitional Assistance Management Program provides 180 days of extended Tricare health coverage (including prescription drug coverage) to troops who are involuntarily separated with discharges that are honorable or are characterized as "under honorable conditions." General discharges may or may not meet the "under honorable conditions" threshold. You need to work this through your unit's servicing personnel office; TAMP eligibility is determined by the military services, not by Tricare.
You can get more information about who qualifies for TAMP here: www.tricare.mil/tamp
Q. I'm a Marine with a stepson who's turning 20 this year. He still hasn't graduated from high school. I understand that he will lose Tricare eligibility next year unless he is a full-time college student. But will he still be able to get Tricare Young Adult, or will he have to get other insurance?
A. Dependent children of Tricare-eligible military sponsors age out of "ordinary" Tricare at 21 unless they are full-time college students, in which case they may remain covered under ordinary Tricare until age 23. However, children over 21 who are not full-time college students are indeed eligible for Tricare Young Adult, which requires enrollment and payment of monthly premiums. That coverage is available until age 26. TYA has a couple of other eligibility requirements as well: The dependent child must be unmarried, and must not be eligible for employer-sponsored health coverage through his or her own employment.
From the information you've provided, as long as your stepson is properly enrolled under your sponsorship in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, he will be eligible for TYA when he turns 21. You can confirm this by visiting the ID Card/DEERS office on any military installation.
Email tricarehelp@militarytimes.com. Include the word "Tricare" in the subject line and do not attach files. Get Tricare advice any time at www.militarytimes.com/tricarehelp.
