TRICARE Prime Versus TRICARE Select

TRICARE Prime Versus TRICARE SelectTRICARE Prime Versus TRICARE SelectHealth care for military personnel and their families isnt something that gets much coverage in the media, which means that most civilians dont know very much about it. For military families, though, its a big deal. As with almost every other aspect of the military, budget cuts threaten to change the landscape of health insurance for military-affiliated families. TRICARE has been a benefit for many families and helps keep their medical expenses within budget. TRICARE offers two main plans with 15 different plan variants, making sure to offer plan options that have exactly what you need to get the best, and most affordable, healthcare for yourself and your family. TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select offer two different approaches to healthcare. Each plan has its pros and cons, and the following comparison can help you make the best choice for your family. TRICARE Prime Active duty military members and their depende nts need to enroll in TRICARE Prime.Active duty families pay no enrollment fee, while retirees, their families and others must pay an enrollment fee ranging from $289 to $350 for individuals, and $578 to $700 for families. With TRICARE Prime, you can keep coverage costs to a minimum, while using a managed-care system. You arent required to pay a co-pay (out of pocket fee) or deductible, unless youre using the point-of-service option. In this case, youll have a single-person deductible of $300 or a family deductible of $600. If youre active duty, you wont be able to use the point-of-service option. If you want to use the no out-of-pocket option with TRICARE Prime, youll choose from a list of approved or designated providers, similar to a civilian HMO policy, where you can see only providers who are in the plans network. If you live on or near a base, this usually means going to the local military medical facility. Youll have somewhat limited options with this plan, especially if you or a family member has special medical needs. TRICARE Prime only offers availability in designated prime service areas, and you can find out which areas qualify by using the PlanFinderon the TRICARE website. In order to use the no-copay option under Prime, youll need an official referral if you need to see a specialist or other preferred provider. So, youll have mora paperwork and processing on Prime, but the savings may very well be worth it for your family. You just have to prepare yourself for a delay in care while you wait for referrals. If you need immediate, emergency care, youll have to spend a few seconds thinking about your options before you rush out the door. For example, TRICARE separates emergency and urgent care, and the coverage requirements are different under the plan. A visit to the emergency room for a life-threatening concern only warrants a post-event call to your program contractor. Alternatively, a visit to urgent care for a non-life-threatening but aserious i ssue (such as a broken ankle) does require a referral. The TRICARE Prime plan caps your costs, called a catastrophic cap, depending on your military status. For active duty family members, youll pay a maximum of $1,000, and all others pay a maximum of $3,000 to $3,500. TRICARE Select TRICARE Selectgives you the most freedom of choice and flexibility in your options for providers, but it also involves some additional out-of-pocket expenses. You have the choice to use a network provider or out-of-network provider, and you wont need to get a referral. However, you may leise need authorization for certain services, just as you would with most other insurance plans. You must enroll in this plan, and you may need to pay for some services up front and then file a claim yourself to get reimbursed. If you choose an in-network provider, they typically file claims for you. TRICARE Selectcan be great if you live on or near a base but dont want to use the local military medical facilities, o r someone in your family has special needs. TRICARE Standards out-of-network option can also come in handy if you live more than 30 miles from a military medical facility and dont want to drive long distances to take your children to the doctor. The program is available in all areas of the United States. You will pay an annual deductible on TRICARE Select,however, the rates are still very affordable compared to civilian insurance options. For example, for an E4 and below and on active duty or in the Guard/Reserve, your deductible can be $50 per person (but no more than $100 for the whole family). E5 and above can expect $150 per individual (but no more than $300 for the whole family). You will also be responsible for a percentage or share of certain services. Many preventative services dont require an out-of-pocket fee, however, you can expect to be responsible for anywhere from $15 to $28in-network or 20 percent to 25 percent for out-of-network provider visits. This plan features t he same catastrophic cap benefit level as the TRICARE Prime plan. Making the Right Choice For Your Family Both plans offer great options for active duty military personnel and their families. Establish your priorities for health care, and consider your long-term needs to help guide your research. Like any other decision regarding medical care, be sure to communicate directly with your insurance provider to get the most up-to-date information.