Military Health Care Benefit Guide to Understanding TRICARE

Health insurance and medical coverage these days is usually difficult to understand. There's so many different options, so many different choices, it's hard just to understand one medical plan. Unfortunately, the military really is no different - it's just as confusing as all the rest. Understanding TRICARE and military health care in general is easier when it's broken down into a few simple points. What Is TRICARE? TRICARE is a program that combines the health benefits and resources of the U. S. Army, Air Force, and Navy. This program offers health benefits and health care programs to active service members and their families or survivors. Retired service members (veterans) can also benefits from TRICARE. This program includes dental services, life insurance benefits, and pharmaceutical benefits. Like most health insurance plans, TRICARE offers different choices for coverage. These plans are offered one of three ways: Prime, Standard, and Extra. Whichever TRICARE plan is chosen by the veteran or service member, the same plan does not have to be picked by the family members or survivors. TRICARE Prime TRICARE Prime offers one of the least expensive routes of medical coverage, with guaranteed access to military treatment facilities coming as part of the package. Those who have TRICARE Prime coverage will get priority treatment in military medical facilities. A second advantage to the Prime package is the PCM, Primary Care Manager. This person or persons address needs by taking care of health problems, or referring patients when further care is needed at another facility. Preventative care is a prime factor in the Prime health care package. TRICARE Standard Once widely known as CHAMPUS, TRICARE Standard is still often called by this former name. With this plan, family members of military personnel or veterans may receive health care from any physician or facility, whether in or outside the military network. With this program, the government shares costs by reimbursing health care expenses. Standard is enjoyed for its flexibility, but is often the most expensive of the three TRICARE choices. TRICARE Extra This third TRICARE option is often less expensive than Standard, while offering as many (if not more) health care options as TRICARE Prime. A 5 percent discount over TRICARE Standard is offered by most facilities accepting TRICARE Extra, making this plan more financially attractive to many service members. Patients under this health care plan pick their own physician from within the Extra network, which offers a wider array than those available through TRICARE Prime. Comments (0) Show/Hide comments Write comment Show/Hide comment form Name Email Website Title Comment Add Comment