Active duty service members and their family members (including
Reservists on active duty) are authorized to use military medical treatment
facilities (MTFs). Retirees and their families may also use these
facilities if space available. Also, you are not limited to the MTF
on your post. You can use other installation MTFs, especially if you
are traveling. However, during a crisis, military facilities may
discontinue services for everyone except active duty
members.
DEERS: In order to verify eligibility for medical and
dental care, service members, retirees, and dependents must be enrolled in DEERS
(Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System). This is normaly
done when you obtain or renew ID cards.
TRICARE: The Department of
Defense Health Plan known as TRICARE was implemented in November
1995. TRICARE Prime is an open continuous enrollment. The
TRICARE Service Center in Reynolds Army Hospital provides information about the
TRICARE program, conducts enrollment and disenrollment, and makes referrals
through Health Care Finders.
Active duty personnel are automatically
enrolled in TRICARE Prime. Family members can choose to enroll in
Prime or remain covered under TRICARE Standard (just like CHAMPUS) or TRICARE
Extra (like TRICARE Standard but with additional cost savings).
TRICARE
Prime provides greater benefits package at a lower cost that TRICARE Standard
and Extra. Active duty family members enrolled in TRICARE Prime pay
no enrollment fees or deductibles for referred care, therefore, this plan offers
the greatest savings for most families. The TRICARE Extra option is a
Preferred Provider Organization with numerous network (contracted) providers
offering discounts off the TRICARE Standard cost. TRICARE Standard
offers the greatest choice in selecting civilian providers and is typically the
most expensive. Call the TRICARE Service Center at 1-800-406-2832 for
more information.
TRICARE DENTAL: The TRICARE-Active Duty
Family Member Dental Plan (FMDP) is a comprehensive dental plan available to
spouses and children of active duty members of the seven uniformed
services. To be eligible for enrollment in FMDP, sponsors must intend
to remain on active duty 24 months. Family members can be enrolled in
or remain in FMDP no matter where they live, but they must receive dental
treatment within the FMDP service area (United States, Guam, Puerto Rico, and
the US Virgin Islands). Sponsors may enroll their family members by filling out
DD form 2494 or 2494-1 at their personnel office. (NOTE: Active duty service
members are not covered under this program, just their spouses and
children.)
Family members dental plan covers all types of necessary
professional dental services. The plan has co-payments, maximums,
limitations, and exclusions similar to typical civilian group dental
plans. The amount covered by the program ranges from 100-percent to
50-percent, depending on the type of dental service. Details of
coverage are fully described in the Evidence of Coverage
booklet. Call the TRICARE Information Center for more information;
beneficiary information, 800-406-2832; provider information, 800-406-2833.