NewsBytes November 6, 2020
In this issue:
TRICARE Open Season
TRICARE Young Adult Premium Increase
Moving Companies Get a Shot at Moving Contract
Veterans’ Day/FRA 96th Birthday/Marine Corps’ 245th Birthday
Veterans’ Day/FRA 96th Birthday/Marine Corps’ 245th Birthday
TRICARE Open Season
TRICARE Open Season is the annual period when a beneficiary can enroll in or change their health care coverage for the next year. This year, TRICARE Open Season begins Monday, November 9 and ends Saturday, December 14. Any enrollment changes will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021. Open season applies to anyone enrolled in or eligible for a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select. This does not apply to TRICARE-for-Life.
If you are eligible to participate in TRICARE Open Season, you have three options:
1. Stay in your plan. If beneficiaries want to stay in their current TRICARE health plan, you do not have to re-enroll. The beneficiary will continue in their current health plan through 2021 or as long as you’re eligible.
Note: Are you a Group A If you or your sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment occurred before Jan. 1, 2018, you are in Group A. retiree or family member enrolled in TRICARE Select? Act now to set up payment for a new monthly TRICARE Select enrollment fee to keep your TRICARE Select coverage. These fees go into effect Jan. 1, 2021.
2. Enroll in a plan. If you are eligible for a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select but not enrolled, you can enroll in a plan now.
3. Change plans. If you are already enrolled in a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select, you can switch plans and switch between individual and family enrollment.
What Happens if I Do not Take Any Action?
If you are not already in a plan and do not enroll in a plan during open season, you’ll only be eligible for care at a military hospital or clinic if space is available.
Making Enrollment Changes Outside of Open Season
Outside of TRICARE Open Season, a beneficiary can enroll in or change enrollment to TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select following a Qualifying Life Event (QLE).
A QLE is a certain change in your life, such as marriage, birth of a child, or retirement from active duty, which may mean different TRICARE health plans are available to you and your family members. A TRICARE QLE opens a 90-day period for you to make eligible enrollment changes. A QLE for one family member creates a chance for all eligible family members to make enrollment changes. To learn more, go online.
Outside of the Federal Benefits Open Season, you can only enroll in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) or make changes to your existing FEDVIP plan if you experience a FEDVIP QLE. Remember, FEDVIP QLEs may be different from the TRICARE QLEs. To learn more, go online.
TRICARE Young Adult Premium Increase
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) recently announced that effective Jan. 1, 2021, TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) premiums will increase. TYA Select monthly premium will be $257 and TYA Prime monthly premium will be $459. By law, TYA enrollees must pay premiums that represent the full cost of the program. These costs have risen, so TYA premiums are increasing. TRICARE Young Adult is a plan that qualified adult children can purchase after eligibility for “regular” TRICARE coverage ends at age 21 or age 23 and enrolled in college, learn more online.
Moving Companies Get a New Shot at $20 Billion Pentagon Moving Contract
As a follow-up to stories in the June 26, 2020 and May 8. 2020 NewsBytes, the Department of Defense has recently announced it will reassess proposals from the top four bidders for a $20 billion exclusive moving household goods for Permanent Change of Station (PCS) contract after a Government Accountability Office (GAO) found errors in the initial award process.
The four most highly rated bidders on the original contract now have until Dec. 2, 2020 to submit new proposals and a new award will be made by June 2021, according to a U.S. Transportation Command statement.
The award would come more than one year after the military originally handed the three-year $7.2 billion contract to American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group of New Jersey this past April. The command reconfirmed the award in June after a review, but competitors filed successful bid protests with the GAO, which decided in their favor last month.
The command said in the statement that it will “thoroughly, fairly, and completely re-evaluate the four most competitive offers and select the one that presents the best overall benefit and the highest quality of service for our service members, DOD civilians, and their families.”
Veterans’ Day/FRA 96th Birthday/Marine Corps’ 245th Birthday
Veterans’ Day/FRA 96th Birthday/Marine Corps’ 245th Birthday
This Wednesday will mark the 102nd anniversary of the armistice ending the First World War on Nov. 11, 1918. Today, November 11th, is recognized as Veterans Day. It is a long-standing tradition for many FRA Shipmates to participate in Veterans’ Day ceremonies across the country. This November 11th also marks the FRA’s 96th anniversary. NED Slawinski will participate in the ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and the special wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknow Soldier. ANC will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., however, the Memorial Amphitheater and the Tomb are currently closed to the public. All visitors are to follow social distancing requirements and face covering policy. Anyone not having face coverings in their possession at entry points will not be granted access.
DLP John Davis and ADLP Theo Lawson have been invited to participate in Mack’s Marines “Glory to the Corps” Birthday Celebration scheduled for Friday, November 6. This year, we will be celebrating the 245thBirthday of the Marine Corps and the 45th gathering of Mack’s Marines. This year’s birthday celebration will be a virtual event to ensure the safety and well-being of all hands because of COVID social distancing requirements.
The FRA thanks Shipmates for their service defending our nation and for their continued membership. Please note the FRA National Headquarters will be closed Wednesday, November 11 in observance of Veterans’ Day.
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