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TRICARE coverage meets Affordable Care Act requirements

  • Published
  • By Sharlene Payne
  • 72nd Medical Support Squadron
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  By now, most TRICARE beneficiaries have read or heard in the news about the minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act that must be in place by Jan. 1, 2014.

The TRICARE program is considered minimum essential coverage. All of the following plan options have the required MEC coverage by the health care reform law: TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote, TRICARE Standard, TRICARE For Life, TRICARE Overseas Program options, US Family Health Plan, Transitional Assistance Management Program and (if purchased) the following TRICARE programs: TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve, TRICARE Young Adult and the Continued Health Care Benefit Program.

When eligibility information changes (such as marriage, birth or adoption), it's imperative that Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System information is up-to-date. If you have TRICARE coverage and anticipate losing it due to military separation, divorce or other reasons (like TRICARE young adult turning age 26), the Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment began on Oct. 1 with coverage starting as early as Jan. 1. Marketplace coverage options can be found at www.healthcare.gov.

Additionally, military sponsors with a dependent parent or parent-in-law who is issued a military dependent identification card are NOT eligible for the TRICARE programs mentioned above. Dependent parents/parents-in-law are only eligible to receive military treatment facility direct care/TRICARE Plus and DO NOT meet the MEC coverage.

Individuals who do not meet the MEC provision of the law will be required to pay a fee for each month not adequately covered. The Internal Revenue Service will use the DEERS to verify MEC coverage and will collect a fee during the 2014 tax return period. For a list of associated fees, visit: www.healthcare.gov/glossary/ fee. If MEC coverage is met for the entire year, no fees will be collected.

To learn more about TRICARE program options, visit www.tricare.mil. Additional information regarding the Affordable Care Act can be found at www.tricare.mil/aca.