12-21-12

Reservists Must Switch to Electronic TRICARE Payments

TRICARE management Activity (TMA) is notifying TRICARE beneficiaries covered by TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) or TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) that they must switch to electronic premium payments by Dec. 31, 2012. If they don’t make the change, they risk having their coverage suspended. Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, TRICARE will only accept monthly premium payments using recurring automatic payments by credit or debit card, or by recurring electronic funds transfer (EFT) from a linked bank account. To avoid confusion, beneficiaries should verify that their bank sends EFT payments electronically. Beneficiaries can contact their regional or overseas contractor to set up automatic payments and get more information. Contact information is available online at www.TRICARE.mil/contacts

The Defense Manpower Data Center sent email messages to current TRR and TRS members, and new beneficiaries are informed in their welcome package information.
Electronic payments make it easy for members to pay their premiums on time, ensuring continuous coverage for beneficiaries. When beneficiaries don’t pay their premiums it results in suspension of coverage.

TRS and TRR are premium-based health plans. TRS is available for purchase by qualified members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve and their families; and TRR can be purchased by qualified retired Reserve members, their families and qualified survivors of Reservists. For more information about TRS or TRR go to www.tricare.mil