A revamped and less complicated Tricare Reserve Select (TRS) health care program is set to launch Oct. 1, providing National Guard soldiers and airmen a new option for insuring themselves and their families.

Guardsmen will be able to purchase TRS insurance, which features nearly identical coverage to active-duty Tricare Standard/Extra and costs far less than the current reserve-select premiums or comparable coverage from civilian providers.

One major highlight of the new version is that it offers one premium level instead of the current three-tier system.

The insurance doesn't depend on employment status or whether the soldier or airman has deployed. The program also offers expanded survivor coverage and open enrollment.

Coverage under the new plan will cost $81 per month for the Guardsman and $253 a month for family coverage. The premiums will not change through December 2008 but may be adjusted annually thereafter, Tricare officials said.

Cunently, TRS offers all members of the selected reserve the chance to purchase comprehensive health coverage. Premiums for that coverage are based on three qualification tiers.

Depending on previous service or employment status, monthly costs for an individual could range from $81 to $247 or from $253 to $767 for a member and his family.

There are two qualification criteria for the new TRS. First, the purchaser must be in the Guard or Reserve. Second, he or she must not be eligible for the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program or cunently covered through the FEHB.

For the past year, TRS eligibility has been based on several qualifying factors, with monthly premiums charged according to a member's qualification tier.

Tier One, the least expensive premium, went to those soldiers and airmen who had served on active duty for more than 90 days in support of a contingency operation. They also had a nanow time window in which to purchase coverage.

Tier Two qualification went to those members who were unemployed, self-employed or were employed by an organization not offering health care coverage.

Tier Three, which included the most expensive premiums, was reserved for members who had entered into a service agreement but didn't qualify for Tier One or Two.

At the behest of NGAUS, Congress streamlined the three-tier system in the fiscal 2007 defense authorization act to give all Guardsmen and Reservists the same low-cost coverage.

Affordable health care had been an association legislative priority for nearly a decade. NGAUS argued it was a medical readiness issue, citing independent data that showed one in five nonmobilized Guardsmen and Reservists had no health care coverage.

But the effort had to overcome fierce resistance from the Pentagon, which said extending Tricare to the Guard and Reserve-even on a cost-share basis-was too expensive (Chairman's Message, page 10).

TRS is a Tricare Standard program. As a result, it features an almost unrestricted choice of health care providers, including military treatment facilities, Tricare network providers, and non-network participating providers.

There are co-pays and deductibles; however, in most cases, a patient can see a specialist without prior authorization.

-NGAUS staff report

At a Glance:

New Tricare Reserve Select

* Available to all Guardsmen

* Individual monthly premium is $81

* Includes prescription drug coverage

* Open enrollment begins Oct. 1

* More information: www.tricare.mil

© 2007 National Guard Association of the United States Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.