TRICARE Update – PAY in Advance or LOSE COVERAGE
TRICARE Update – PAY in Advance or LOSE COVERAGE
YOU CAN LOSE TRICARE COVERAGE if the premium isn’t PAID BY January 1, 2021. Under federal law, “we don’t have legal authority to provide care or process claims” if the fees are not paid.
- Starting January 1, 2021, retirees (generally working-age retirees under age 65) will pay $12.50 a month for individual coverage, or $150 annually. Enrollment fees for those with families will be $25 monthly or $300 annually. This affects retirees and their family members in TRICARE SELECT Group A (sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment was before January 1, 2018). They currently don’t pay enrollment fees, but under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017, Congress required defense officials to start charging these working-age retirees enrollment fees in 2021.
- Fees DO NOT apply to retirees in the Tricare for Life program, nor does it affect Chapter 61 retirees (receiving disability retirement). Active duty family members don’t pay Tricare Select enrollment fees.
IF you are affected by the upcoming change:
Sign up before November 30th, 2020 to avoid having to pay one or two months of premiums in advance.
How to update? Contact your regional TRICARE contractor by phone or through their website to set up their fee payment:
- By retired pay allotment (safest way)
- Electronic funds transfer
- Debit / Credit card
2020 OPEN Tricare Season begins November 9, 2020 and ends December 14, 2020. Click here for details. ALSO affected are TRICARE YOUNG ADULT plans – premiums increase.