How To Enrollonline Only
You can only enroll online because DMDC must verify your eligibility with your Common Access Card , you must also have a MyPay account and DoD Self-Service logon
- Log in to the DMDC Reserve Component Purchased Tricare Application
- Follow the instructions to enroll
Once you enroll in the program you can choose from any Tricare participating doctor you wish, but choosing one that is in-network is less expensive. If you choose a non-network provider it may cost you much more and you will have to pay the doctor at time of treatment, then file a claim with Tricare to get reimbursed.
For more information about Tricare Retired Reserve, including covered services and costs please visit our Tricare Retired Reserve Coverage page.
Health Care For Retired Reserve Over 60
Reserve Component retirees become eligible for TRICARE benefits when they reach age 60 and begin receiving retirement pay. TRICARE eligibility remains in force until age 65. Upon reaching age 65, TRICARE ends, and you become eligible for Medicare and TRICARE For Life. You should contact your Health Benefits Advisors/Beneficiary Counselor and Assistance Coordinators at MTFs or stop in at your TRICARE Service Center for more assistance. Locate the BCAC for your state.
To Do List Following A Qle
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Losing/gaining Other Health Care Coverage
If you lose or gain other health coverage such as other health insurance , or Medicaid or Medicare entitlement, you can make changes to your TRICARE coverage within 90 days.
- If you are gaining OHI, in most cases, TRICARE will become your secondary payer for TRICARE covered services. If you are losing OHI, TRICARE will become your primary payer. Visit our How TRICARE Works with Other Health Insurance page to learn more.
- A loss of Medicare coverage due to failing to sign up for Medicare on time or failing to pay Medicare premiums not considered a QLE.
Government Directed Primary Care Manager Or Health Plan Change
TRICARE Prime beneficiaries directed by the government to change their primary care manager must do so within 90 days. You can either accept the PCM change or change your enrollment to TRICARE Select.
If your TRICARE health plan is no longer available in your area, you will be notified to enroll in another qualified TRICARE health plan within 90 days.
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Tricare Retired Reserve Eligibility
You may be eligible for Tricare Retired Reserve if you are a:
- Retired Reserve member who is:
- A member of the retired Reserve who is qualified for non-regular retirement under 10 U.S.C., Chapter 1223
- Under age 60
- Not eligible for, or enrolled in, the Federal Employees Health Benefits program
Note: Survivor coverage is not affected by FEHB eligibility.
E Tricare Program: Tricare Retired Reserve Coverage For Certain Members Of The Retired Reserve Who Are Qualified For A Non
Eligibility .- Except as provided in paragraph , a member of the Retired Reserve of a reserve component of the armed forces who is qualified for a non-regular retirement at age 60 under chapter 1223 of this title, but is not age 60, is eligible for health benefits under TRICARE Retired Reserve as provided in this section.
Paragraph does not apply to a member who is enrolled, or is eligible to enroll, in a health benefits plan under chapter 89 of title 5.
Termination of Eligibility Upon Obtaining Other TRICARE Coverage .-Eligibility for TRICARE Retired Reserve coverage of a member under this section shall terminate upon the member becoming eligible for TRICARE coverage at age 60 under section 1086 of this title.
Family Members .-While a member of a reserve component is covered by TRICARE Retired Reserve under this section, the members of the immediate family of such member are eligible for TRICARE Retired Reserve coverage as dependents of the member. If a member of a reserve component dies while in a period of coverage under this section, the eligibility of the members of the immediate family of such member for TRICARE Retired Reserve coverage under this section shall continue for the same period of time that would be provided under section 1086 of this title if the member had been eligible at the time of death for TRICARE coverage under such section .
The Secretary shall prescribe the requirements and procedures applicable to the payment of premiums under this subsection.
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Retiree Health Care Options Under Age 60
Once a member retires from the Reserve Component, he or she loses access to the subsidized Tricare Reserve Select plan. They become eligible to participate in the Tricare Retired Reserve plan, which is similar to Tricare Reserve Select, but without any subsidies, and a higher Catastrophic Cap. The retiree must pay 100% of the premiums if they wish to participate in the plan. And its fairly expensive, at least compared to what you may be used to.
Without subsidies, Tricare Retired Reserve comes in at roughly $444/mo for the individual and about $1,066/mo for a family plan. The Catastrophic Cap for Tricare Retired Reserve is $3,655 per family, per fiscal year. This is more expensive than Tricare Reserve Select, but it may or may not be more affordable than anything you can find through an employer or on one of the health insurance exchanges.
Guard and Reserve retirees may also be eligible for some special military health care programs if they were on active duty at the time of their retirement .
These programs may include:
- This article covers more health care options after leaving the military.
Tricare Help: Retired Reservists Wife Is Eligible When He Turns 60
Editor’s note: This column was updated to correct the answer to the second question. Tricare Prime or Standard eligibility ends at age 23 if the child is enrolled full time in college.
Q. I am retired from the Air Force Reserve, and working as an Air Force civilian. My wife is retired and will turn 65 before I do. Will she be able to participate in Tricare for Life when she turns 65 even though I will only be 60 at that time?
A. As you’re likely aware, as a retired reservist you become eligible for regular retired benefits, including military health care coverage, at age 60.
Once you pass that threshold, your wife will be eligible for whatever Tricare plan is age-appropriate for her Tricare Prime or Standard while she is under 65, and Tricare for Life once she hits 65 and qualifies for Medicare. Even though you would not make that transition yourself for several more years, the age of your spouse in this situation doesn’t matter all that matters is that she remains your spouse and you remain her sponsor for Tricare purposes.
Some basic background on Tricare for Life can be found here.
Q. I would like to have my daughter covered under Tricare. She is 23, single and has no other health insurance options. Can you advise me on how to get her health coverage?
A. Assuming that she is the child of a Tricare sponsor, your daughter’s Tricare options are limited.
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Legislation Would Expand Health Care Options For Early Retirees
Bipartisan legislation introduced in both the House and Senate would aim to expand affordable health care options for members of the National Guard who are eligible for early retirement.
The TRICARE Fairness for National Guard and Reserve Retirees Act is being spearheaded by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, in the Senate. And Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., and Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, in the House.
If approved, the legislation would allow retired members of the Guard and Reserve who are not yet age 60, but are receiving retirement pay, to purchase lower-cost TRICARE health coverage specifically designed for retired military personnel.
When Congress authorized a reduction in the retirement age to below 60 for our National Guard and Reserve members in 2008, it erred by not ensuring that eligibility for the TRICARE Standard, TRICARE Extra, and TRICARE Prime health care plans were also lowered, Johnson said.
Phillips, a Gold Star son, said providing affordable, high-quality health care should be the minimum standard of support afforded to our service members, especially those in the National Guard and Reserve who have earned early retirement.
The legislation has the support of several military associations and has been endorsed by NGAUS.
Portman said Congress must continue to correct disparities in how service members receive their benefits.
Retired Military Dental Care
Retired members of the Guard and Reserves are eligible for dental care as military retirees once they reach age 60. Prior to November 2018, Military dental care was previously run under the Tricare Retiree Dental Program . However, it has since transitioned to the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program .
Until age 60, Reserve Component retirees have the option of obtaining dental insurance through their employer, through a private insurance plan, or they can self-insure for dental care.
You can learn more about retired military dental insurance options here.
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About Ryan Guina
Ryan Guina is The Military Wallet’s founder. He is a writer, small business owner, and entrepreneur. He served over six years on active duty in the USAF and is a current member of the Illinois Air National Guard.
Ryan started The Military Wallet in 2007 after separating from active duty military service and has been writing about financial, small business, and military benefits topics since then. He also writes about personal finance and investing at Cash Money Life.
Ryan uses Personal Capital to track and manage his finances. Personal Capital is a free software program that allows him to track his net worth, balance his investment portfolio, track his income and expenses, and much more. You can open a free Personal Capital account here.
Featured In: Ryan’s writing has been featured in the following publications: Forbes, Military.com, US News & World Report, Yahoo Finance, Reserve & National Guard Magazine , Military Influencer Magazine, Cash Money Life, The Military Guide, USAA, Go Banking Rates, and many other publications.
Finding The Right Plan For You
Your choice can almost be made for you, depending on your age, and where you live. The biggest question mark for most people is how to handle health insurance coverage as a Gray Area Retiree. If you find yourself in this situation, I would sit down and compare Tricare Retired Reserve with the options available through your employer, or through one of the healthcare exchanges .
Once you reach age 60, it makes sense to go with Tricare Prime or Select. Once you reach age 65, you are no longer eligible for Prime or Select and must move to Tricare for Life if you wish to continue receiving health care through the military.
More help is available: You can always contact a Tricare Ombudsman who can help you decide which plan is best for your situation. There should be one at each Military Treatment Facility, or you can contact Tricare, and they will have someone explain things to you and help you choose.
Here are some plan details, and links to the website:
Tricare Reserve Select Premiums :
- Only available while actively participating in the Guard Reserves
Tricare Retired Reserve Premiums :
- Available to Retired members or the Guard or Reserves
- Equivalent to TRICARE Reserve Select, however, there are no premium subsidies, so you pay the entire cost of premiums.
- Available until age 60, at which time you are eligible to TRICARE Prime or Select
Tricare Prime Premiums :
- $12 copay off-base
- MTF space available, but no Copay
- Prescriptions
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Dental Care After Retirement
Once you retire, you lose eligibility to TRICARE dental. To retain dental insurance you have to enroll in the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program . The TRDP provides comprehensive dental coverage for Uniformed Services retirees and their family members. Under contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, the Federal Services division of Delta Dental Plan administers the TRDP.
The TRDP is a voluntary dental benefits program with enrollee-paid premiums. Covered services under the TRDP are offered worldwide.
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TRICARE Fairness for National Guard and Reserve Retirees Act
This bill aligns eligibility for TRICARE health coverage with the age at which personnel of the Retired Reserve begin receiving retired pay. Specifically, personnel of the Retired Reserve who are not yet age 60 but are receiving their retirement pay may purchase TRICARE health coverage for retired military personnel, rather than the presently allowed TRICARE Retired Reserve.
Under current law, Reserve Component personnel may retire below age 60, but not below 50, based on active duty performance.
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Tricare Retired Reserve Overview
The Tricare Retired Reserve program is a health insurance program for retired reservists and guard members and their families. The program is a premium-based insurance policy with deductibles and coverage limits.
Retirees are eligible for the program until they reach age 60, when they will be disenrolled and will be eligible for other premium-free Tricare programs such as Tricare Prime or Tricare Select as a retiree.
Once a retired reserve/guard member reaches age 65 and becomes eligible for Medicare, they are eligible for Tricare for Life. Tricare for Life is basically the Tricare plan you already have that works in conjunction with Medicare to cover all your payments.
Retiree Health Care Options Age 65+
At age 65, Reserve Corps retirees are eligible to receive Tricare for Life, which is a Medicare Supplemental Insurance Program. There are no monthly premiums for this plan.
*Retirees living overseas. I recommend you contact the Tricare customer service line to find the best option for you. There are different rules and programs for retirees living overseas, and each situation is unique.
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Adding A Newborn Or Adopted Child
Active Duty Service Members and Their Family Members
Retirees and Their Family Members
TRICARE Reserve Select /TRICARE Retired Reserve
All newborn and adopted child claims will be held until the TRS enrollment request is processed. If enrolled within 90 days of the QLE, claims for services on or after the effective date of enrollment will be processed. Any claims for services prior to the effective date of enrollment will be denied.
Adding A Family Member
Active Duty Service Members and Their Family Members
*A newborn or newly adopted child will not automatically be enrolled in TRICARE Prime when both parents are active duty.
Retirees and Their Family Members
Note: You must submit a full quarterly payment for your application to be processed. Your next billing statement will be adjusted to the quarterly amount. Also, if you have an automatic payment option, it will be updated to the monthly amount after the quarterly payment applies to your account.
TRICARE Reserve Select /TRICARE Retired Reserve
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Supplemental Health Insurance For Reserve Retirees
One short stay in the hospital could offset the cost of several years of supplement health insurance. Even though you are covered by TRICARE, a supplemental insurance policy is a good idea for retirees. Here’s why:
- TRICARE does not cover all costs.
- TRICARE has a yearly deductible to be paid.
- TRICARE has a yearly cap on non-covered expenses the cap is extremely high, and you are responsible for the cost of non-covered items up to that amount.
If you are covered by health insurance with your new employer, you may use TRICARE as your supplemental insurance for that policy. Check with your TRICARE advisor concerning your particular circumstances and those of your family.
