LVMAC Tidbits — TRICARE Prime Increase Starts in October

TRICARE Management Recommends Quarterly or Monthly Payments Due to Possible Changes

In a 23 July media release, TRICARE announced the Fiscal Year 2013 TRICARE Prime enrollment fee increases for uniformed service retirees and their families will go into effect 1 October 2012.

For all retirees, the annual enrollment fees for 2013 will be:

– $269.28 for retirees
– $538.56 for retirees and their family members

Unlike previously, all retirees are now affected.  For those who enrolled after October 1, this means an increase from $260 and $520 respectively.  However, most retirees will experience a larger increase because those who were enrolled in Prime prior to Oct. 1, 2011 are no longer stablized at 2011 levels, which were $230 and $460 per year, respectively.

Beneficiaries can opt to pay their enrollment fee monthly, quarterly or annually. Before deciding to pay annually, beneficiaries should keep in mind that in most cases enrollment fees are non-refundable, and Congressional changes to fees in the 2013 budget could occur. For this reason, it’s recommended that beneficiaries pay their enrollment fee monthly or quarterly. To learn more about TRICARE Prime enrollment fees, refer to http://www.tricare.mil/costs.

Survivors of active duty deceased sponsors and uniformed services medically retired service members and their dependents are unaffected. They are exempt from annual fee increases. Their enrollment fee is frozen at the rate in effect when they were classified and enrolled in TRICARE Prime.  However, their fee remains frozen as long as there is no break in their TRICARE Prime enrollment.

Active duty service members and their families have access to TRICARE Prime with no enrollment fee.

Source: TRICARE News Release 23 Jul 2012

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As of 23 July 2012