YOU ASK:
I am on active military duty and I fear that my TRICARE coverage will be affected? Will it?
WE ANSWER:
No, it will not be affected. TRICARE will continue to provide coverage to those eligible, including their dependents.
To quote a statement issued by Defense Secretary Robert Gates on March 21, 2010, the government is "committed to seeing that our troops, retirees and their families will continue to receive the best quality health care". Ensuring the TRICARE coverage is maintained is the secretary's highest priority.
The healthcare reform bill (as well as a separate bill) will work to ensure that the country's servicemen and women will enjoy quality care. Here are some of the protections provided by the new health care reform bill:
- Benefits, eligibility rules, as well as co-payment levels remain virtually unchanged.
- TRICARE will ensure that those covered are able to meet the responsibility requirement as outlined by the healthcare reform bill. You see, citizens will be required to be ensured or else face penalties. Those on TRICARE coverage will meet the minimum level of covered required by the new bill. This means that those who are on this coverage will not need to face the penalties, nor will they need to buy additional coverage.
- The way your health care is administered and provided will remain unchanged. The administration of this insurance still falls under the purview of the Defense Department.
- TRICARE recipients will not need to shell money out for out-of-pocket expenditures.
- The bill will not force those on TRICARE to transfer to another government-sponsored health care program.
- TRICARE premiums or enrollment fees will also stay the same, unless there are other factors not related to the healthcare reform bill.
- The age limit for children who are covered under the TRICARE program remains the same. Those who are 21 years old and under or who are up to 23 years old but are on a full-time school program will be covered. This is in contrast with the new age limit for children to stay under their parents' plans, which is now moved to 26 years old.
Was this insurance question and its answer useful?
| Not a bit | Very useful |
Have an Insurance Question? Ask For Insurance
More questions about health insurance:
- What impact will the health reform law be on veteran’s coverage?
- Will the bill affect Medigap? Will Medigap be still available?
- Is medical malpractice affected by the health insurance reform bill?
- When will the health insurance reform bill be effective?
- Won’t the benefits in the health care reform result in higher taxes?
- How will the health care reform law affect health savings accounts (HSA)?
- Will all the changes in the health care reform result in an increase in my health care premiums?
- Will the health care reform provide me with coverage to see a psychiatrist or a therapist?
- How will the new health care bill affect access to maternity benefits?
- Will the new health care bill allow us to keep our COBRA plan?
- I have a pre-existing condition. Will I be able to get health insurance under the new health reform law?
- I am self-employed? How will the new health care reforms affect me?
- Will the reform law give me freedom on which health plan to choose?
- I heard that my family will enjoy savings of around $2,500 under the new health care reform law. How will this happen?
- Will I be forced to change plans under the new health care reform law?
- If I buy from the individual market, will the healthcare reform provide me with consumer protections? If so, what are these consumer protections?
- Will the deductibles and co-payments increase under the new healthcare plan?
- If I buy insurance on my own, will the cost be higher than in the past?
- Will I be allowed to buy insurance from another state?
- How will the health insurance reform help lower the cost of insurance?