If you are leaving the service or you lose eligibility for TRICARE, there are some options available to you and your family. Congress has granted limited eligibility for TRICARE benefits to four categories of former active duty service members under the Transitional Health Care Benefit (THCB). If the service member served:
Less than six years, they receive TRICARE benefits for up to 60 days after the separation date.
Six or more years, they receive benefits for up to 120 days.
Eligible service member categories:
A member involuntary separated from active duty.
A reserve component member separated from active duty who was called up or ordered in support of a contingency operation for an active duty period of more than 30 days.
A member separated from active duty after involuntarily retained in support of a contingency operation.
A member separated from active duty following a voluntary agreement to stay on active duty for a period of less than one year in support of a contingency mission.
Each service branch determines THCB eligibility and provides that eligibility information to DEERS. TRICARE contractors check DEERS for eligibility status when processing claims. Claims for eligible members are processed the same as those for active duty family members.
The Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) is intended to provide transitional benefits for a specified period of time (18-36 months) to former service members and their families, some unremarried former spouses, and emancipated children (living on their own) who enroll and pay quarterly premiums.
The benefits available under CHCBP are similar to TRICARE Standard, and although it is not part of TRICARE Standard, it operates under most of the same rules. To receive coverage under CHCBP, eligible persons must enroll within 60 days after separating from active duty or from losing their eligibility for military health care. Humana Military is the administrator for CHCBP.
Although very similar to TRICARE Standard in terms of benefits, note that the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a separate program, distinctly different from TRICARE Standard. CHAMPVA is the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) version of TRICARE Standard, in which the VA shares with eligible VA beneficiaries the cost of covered health care services and supplies. Administration of CHAMPVA, including the determination of eligibility, the authorization of benefits, and the processing of claims, is the sole responsibility of the Veterans Affairs Health Administration Center in Denver, CO.
For information regarding this program, you may contact the Veterans Affairs Health Administration Center, 300 Jackson Street, P. O. Box 65023, Denver, CO 80206-5023, call the toll-free number, (800) 733-8387.
The CHAMPVA began a program called CHAMPVA For Life, on October 1, 2001. This benefit is designed for spouses or dependents who are 65 or over. You must be a family member of a veteran who has permanent and total service-connected disability, who died of a service-connected condition, or who was totally disabled from a service-connected condition at the time of death. You must also have Medicare coverage. You may call toll free (888) 289-2411 to obtain the latest recorded information, leave a change of address or request information to be mailed to you. The phone line is available 24 hours a day.
