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TRICARE Is for College Students, Too (Article 3)

Your son or daughter is well into the first semester of college by now. If you assumed he or she wouldn’t be covered by TRICARE and instead are paying for other health insurance (OHI), you’ll want to keep reading.

Away from home doesn’t mean away from TRICARE health care. TRICARE covers college students’ health care needs through several program options until age 21, or through age 23 for those who qualify for an extension by being enrolled
as a full-time student. Call your local uniformed services identification (ID) card issuing facility to assist you in obtaining an extension.

It’s not too late to explore your college student’s TRICARE options. Here’s a quick look at the three TRICARE programs your son or daughter can choose while at school.

TRICARE Prime
First, find out if the college is in a TRICARE Prime Service Area and which TRICARE providers (military or civilian) are available nearby. You can do this by using Humana Military’s online Provider Locator or by calling 1-800-444-5445.

If your college student lives in an area where a TRICARE Prime network is available, he or she may enroll in TRICARE Prime and seek care at a military treatment facility (MTF) or from a civilian provider in the TRICARE network.

Active duty family members (ADFMs) pay no enrollment fee or copayments. Family members of retirees pay a small annual enrollment fee and copayments when obtaining care from a civilian provider. TRICARE Prime beneficiaries also have small pharmacy copayments, and must pay cost-shares and deductibles when using the TRICARE Prime
point-of-service option.

TRICARE Standard
If your college student does not live in an area where a TRICARE Prime network is offered or chooses not to enroll in TRICARE Prime, he or she may obtain care from any non-network TRICARE-authorized provider through the TRICARE Standard option.

TRICARE Standard ADFMs pay a 20-percent cost-share for covered services after the deductible is met. Family members of retirees pay a 25-percent cost-share after meeting the TRICARE Standard deductible. With the TRICARE Standard option, your student also may be responsible for paying an additional 15 percent above the TRICARE allowable charge
for services, as well as filing a claim form (DD Form 2642).

TRICARE Extra
If your college student is using TRICARE Standard but can visit a TRICARE network provider, he or she can receive care through the TRICARE Extra option, which offers a cost savings over TRICARE Standard. ADFMs who use TRICARE Extra pay a 15-percent cost-share after the deductible is met. Family members of retirees pay a 20-percent cost-share after the deductible is met.

Remember to tell your college student that he or she will be asked to present his or her valid uniformed services ID card
to the provider to demonstrate TRICARE eligibility.

Other Benefits
TRICARE also offers several convenient options for having prescriptions filled and obtaining dental care while away at college.

For more information, refer to the TRICARE Choices for College Students booklet, or your local TRICARE Service Center. If you still have additional questions, call Humana Military at 1-800-444-5445.

So that your son or daughter can enjoy these and other TRICARE benefits, make sure that his or her records and contact information are correct and up to date in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). For more information on how to update DEERS, visit them online.
 
New Audio Library Answers Your Health Questions (Article 4)

Occasionally, you just need an answer to a health-related question. When it comes to your health, the question may even be sensitive and personal.

Sure, you might feel comfortable talking to your primary care manager, but it’s just not feasible to call the PCM for every question that arises.

The new Humana Military Audio Health Information Library will help you get the answers you need and the privacy you deserve. This service, available around the clock by calling toll-free 1-877-217-7946, features up-to-date information about a variety of medical topics.

What Can I Learn?
The topics you can access through the audio library are grouped into broad categories, which include:
  • AIDS and HIV
  • Allergies
  • Arthritis
  • Brain and Nervous System Disorders
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cancer – Caregiver Guidelines
  • Cancer – General Information
  • Cancer – Other Types
  • Cancer – Treatment
  • Children’s Health
  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Common Illnesses and Disorders
  • Common Symptoms
  • Diabetes
  • Diagnostic Procedures
  • Digestive Disorders
  • Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders
  • Eye Care/Eye Disorders
  • First Aid
  • Foot Disorders
  • Headaches
  • Health Care Consumer Tips
  • Healthy Living
  • Heart Disease and Circulatory
  • Disorders
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Lung and Bronchial Disorders
  • Lymphomas
  • Medications
  • Men’s Health
  • Mental Health
  • Muscle/Bone/Joint – Injuries and Disorders
  • Operations
  • Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
  • Skin
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Substance Abuse
  • Surgery Information
  • Thyroid Disorder
  • Urinary Tract Disorders
  • Women’s Health
  • Women’s Health – After Delivery
  • Women’s Health – Birth
  • Women’s Health – General
  • Women’s Health – Infections
  • Women’s Health – Menstrual
  • Women’s Health – Pregnancy
  • Spanish Language Topics
The system’s voice prompts will ask you to select your category of interest. You can then drill down to the topic you’re looking for within that specific category.

The audio library can provide you with the medical information you want to know, but it cannot substitute for a physician’s care. For complete diagnosis and treatment, you must visit your PCM, a specialist or the emergency room.

Learn more about the health care topics that matter to you. Call the Humana Military Audio Health Information Library
at 1-877-217-7946 today!
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Last Reviewed:  December 4, 2007