Tricare Help: How can I prove to my doctor that I’m covered? - Getting out, military health issues - Navy Times

Tricare Help: How can I prove to my doctor that I’m covered?

Answering your questions on Tricare.

Q. Doctors have asked me for an identification card as proof of insurance. How can I get such a document from Tricare?

Tricare does not issue a separate document to be used as proof of insurance. A valid uniformed service identification card serves as proof of Tricare coverage. See the back of the card for the words “Yes” or “No” in the statement regarding eligibility for civilian medical care, which is Tricare.

For Tricare to help pay your medical bills, you must use Tricare-authorized providers — those registered with Tricare who have been issued a provider number to put on bills for services rendered to Tricare beneficiaries. An authorized provider should know to recognize the uniformed service ID card as proof of coverage.

Only the services can register an eligible person in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System computer database and issue the proper ID.

Providers can call DEERS to confirm a patient’s Tricare eligibility if the uniformed service ID card does not suffice.

Q. I just turned 60 and became a retired reservist. I can sign up for Tricare for Life, but I have a wife and two children. When I turn 65 and go on Medicare, will my dependents still be covered by Tricare for Life?

You are making a common newcomer mistake of confusing the names of “ordinary” Tricare Standard or Tricare Prime with Tricare for Life. When you became entitled to receive retired pay at age 60, you, your wife and your children became eligible for “ordinary” Tricare, not Tricare for Life.

Tricare for Life allows Tricare beneficiaries with Medicare to combine their Medicare coverage with their Tricare Standard coverage. Usually, Tricare Standard will act as a free Medicare supplement.

A Tricare beneficiary must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B to be eligible for Tricare for Life. You will not become eligible for Tricare for Life until you get Medicare, probably at age 65.

Your transition to Tricare for Life at age 65 will not affect your family’s Tricare eligibility. Your children will be eligible for Tricare until they marry or reach age 21 (or 23, if they are full-time students), whichever comes first. Your wife will continue under Tricare until she gets Medicare, probably at age 65, when she will become eligible for Tricare for Life.

Your family cannot use Tricare until they are properly enrolled. For official details and guidance, call the DEERS support office, toll free, at 800-538-9552.

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