Most eligible National Guardsmen and Reservists have only until Oct. 28 to sign up for the Defense Department new premium-based health care plan.
Tricare Reserve Select (TRS) is available to all Guardsmen and Reservists activated for at least 90 consecutive days since Sept. 11, 2001 who agree to continued service.
Officials have said that they will apply the coverage retroactively.
Congress created TRS last year in the fiscal 2005 defense authorization act.
The Defense Department announced program details and eligibility in March.
TRS is a nationwide, premiumbased plan that closely resembles Tncare Standard coverage available to active-duty personnel.
Its rates are based on the premiums for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Standard Service Benefit Plan for federal employees: $75 a month for individual coverage and $233 monthly for a family.
Guardsmen and Reservists are eligible for one year of TRS coverage for each 90-day period of continuous active duty and each year added to their service agreement.
For example, soldiers who serve a 360-day qualifying active-duty tour are eligible for four years of TRS coverage provided they agree to server another four years.
There are also narrow application windows. Guardsmen and Reservists separating from qualifying active duty on or before April 26, 2005, must execute the extended service agreement by Oct. 28, 2005.
Those separating from qualifying active duty on or after April 27, 2005, must execute the agreement within four months of leaving active duty.
Further details are available on the Tricare Web site at www.tricare. osd.mil.
© 2005 National Guard Association of the United States Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Source: National Guard
