Tricare Help: Husband is off to basic; where do I start? - Marine Corps Health Issues | Marine Corps Times

Tricare Help: Husband is off to basic; where do I start?

Q. My husband left last week for Navy basic training, and I was wondering if I’m eligible to be on his health insurance plan as a dependent spouse. Neither of us knows what to do to enroll me.

A. Your husband is responsible for enrolling his family for military benefits, including Tricare. Tell him to go to his personnel section ASAP to do that. That office will know everything that must be done.

Until you are properly enrolled in the program, save copies of all your medical bills and copies of any other documents pertaining to your medical care. You will need that information to file Tricare claims when you are enrolled. You became eligible for Tricare the day your husband entered active duty.

In the meantime, both of you need to start learning about your Tricare plan. Depending on where you live, you can enroll in either Tricare Standard or Tricare Prime. If you live on or near a military facility — it doesn’t have to be a Navy facility — your best option is probably Tricare Prime because it is the least expensive and gives you priority access at a nearby military hospital for free medical care.

If you live more than 40 miles from a military hospital, or if it would be difficult for you to get to one for care, your best option is probably Tricare Standard.

Under Standard, you will get care from Tricare-authorized civilian doctors and hospitals. If you have Standard, consider buying a Tricare supplement from one of the retired military associations. A supplement will pay for most or all of your medical bills that Tricare does not cover — usually just your Tricare deductible and co-payment.

You must get all your civilian medical care from Tricare-authorized providers or Tricare cannot pay. If any of your doctors or other providers are not Tricare-authorized and want to learn about becoming authorized, tell them to visit this webpage.

Q. I am trying to file an insurance claim for my mother, who has Medicare Part A and B and Tricare for Life. The form asks if she has insurance coverage other than Medicare. The options are coverage under a medical plan or coverage under a medicare supplemental policy. Which is Tricare for Life considered to be?

A. You want the second option. Tricare for Life consists of coverage by Medicare Parts A and B and Tricare Standard; Tricare Standard acts as a free supplement to Medicare. For more information on how Tricare and Medicare work together under Tricare for Life, visit our blog.

Write to Tricare Help, Times News Service, 6883 Commercial Drive, Springfield, VA 22159; or click here to email us. In email, include the word “Tricare” in the subject line and do not attach files. Get Tricare advice anytime on our blog.