Last Updated on June 13, 2023
Choosing the right TRICARE Plan is a difficult and daunting task. The following information will explain the key factors you need to know to choose the best program for your family. These factors include:
- Primary Care Manager
- The Point of Service Option
- Prime Pros and Cons
- TRICARE Cost Comparison
- Helpful Hints
- TRICARE Prime Enrollment Forms
Note: According to TRICARE, all active duty servicemembers are eligible for TRICARE Prime. However, they must fill out an enrollment form and submit it to the regional contractor.
In addition, servicemembers receive most of their care from military medical personnel.
For active-duty families, there is no enrollment fee for TRICARE Prime. However, they must complete an enrollment form to select Prime as their coverage plan.
With TRICARE Prime, most health care will come from a military treatment facility (MTF), along with the TRICARE contracted Civilian Medical Providers called Preferred Provider Network (PPN).
Sponsors should ensure their family members have up-to-date uniformed services identification cards and that they are properly enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
Primary Care Manager
Your Primary Care Manager (or team of providers) will see you first for your healthcare needs.
The Primary Care Manager:
- Provides and/or coordinates your care
- Maintains your health records
- Refers you to specialists, if necessary (To be covered, specialty care must be arranged and approved by your Primary Care Manager)
With Prime, care is usually provided in a military treatment facility, but civilian clinics may be used in some cases. If you live outside of a certain radius of an MTF, you can be assigned to a civilian PCM.
If you are on active duty and live too far away from an MTF, you and your family may be eligible for Tricare Prime Remote. The coverage is very similar.
TIP: TRICARE Prime members should always seek the advice of their Primary Care Manager (or local MTF) before seeking medical attention from any specialists or other medical facilities.
Those who are retired with Tricare Prime are more likely to be able to use civilian providers.
Point of Service (POS) Option
The POS Option under TRICARE Prime allows enrollees the freedom to seek and receive non-emergency health care services from any TRICARE authorized civilian provider, in or out of the TRICARE network, without requesting a referral from their Primary Care Manager (PCM) or the Health Care Finder (HCF).
When Prime enrollees choose to use the POS option, all TRICARE Standard requirements apply except the Nonavailability Statement(NAS) requirement.
However, POS claims are subject to outpatient deductibles ($300 individual and $600 family), 50% cost-shares for outpatient and inpatient claims, and excess charges up to 15% over the allowed amount.
The 50% cost-share continues to be applied even after the Enrollment Year catastrophic cap has been met.
So, in other words, it’s not cheap! Do your best to find a provider in the network.
TRICARE Prime – Advantages
- No enrollment fee for active duty and families
- A small fee (co-pay) per visit to civilian providers and no fee for active duty members
- No balance billing
- Guaranteed appointments (access standards)
- The primary care manager supervises and coordinates care
- Away-from-home emergency coverage
- Point-of-Service option
- Low catastrophic cap for retirees of $3,000
- Claims are filed for you
TRICARE Prime – Disadvantages
- Enrollment fees for retirees and their families, though premiums for retirees are typically much less than typical civilian plans
- Provider choice is more limited
- Specialty care by referral only
- Not universally available
TRICARE Prime Summary
- Guaranteed access to timely medical care
- Priority for care at military hospitals and clinics
- Primary Care Manager provides and guides healthcare delivery
- Lowest cost for treatment among three options
- Requires enrollment for one year
- Retirees pay an enrollment fee
- Very expensive to receive care outside TRICARE Prime (Point-of-Service Option)
- Not available everywhere
Helpful Hint in Choosing Your PCM
If you are using a civilian PCM and require care from specialists, it is imperative to verify they understand the TRICARE referral approval process. You would assume that any doctor who accepts Prime knows how to make a referral request. But we have found that not to be the case.
I have had PCMs in the past who I had to walk through the process of how to do a referral EVERY time I needed one. Needless to say, I switched to a PCM who understands the process and life is much easier.
I’m pretty new to this Army thing and I was wondering does medical insurance come out of my husband’s pay each month? He is in basic training and has received 3 paychecks so far and I never see anything deducted for Tricare Prime (which is what we are enrolled in). Thanks for any help!
My husband and I (and our two babies) are on Tricare Prime. When I went to the Dr. Office that we were assigned to I was informed that im as good as uninsured, that they’ll pay for one doctors visit a year, but no testing, no perscriptions ect. (the tricare office said that). My husband was in AIT at the time, and since i have been avoiding going to the doctor in fear that we would have to pay a ton of money. Is this true??? So far i’ve been lied to multipul times just because im not the soldier. I’ve recieved a Tricare prime handbook but it’s so confusing i cant understand most of it….
This isn’t how Tricare works at all. You will be assigned to a primary care manager for Prime and you can see that doctor as fifteen as you need. You can’t just see whomever you want as your primary has to give you referrals to specialists, etc but I’ve never been turned down when I asked for one.
Hi,
My husband is shipping in April 1st of this year. We recently found out that I am 4-weeks pregnant. I am not even insured. This is our first baby and I am freaking out already. My question is that when he goes to his basic training I will be three months+. Will I be insured?? Because I was trying to get insurance and almost none would insure after the conception. What should I do?? I would really appreciate any answers you have.
I’m fairly certain it will be covered. You can call Tricare and ask 1-800-444-5445.