Tricare: Transitional health care - Getting out, military health issues - Navy Times

Tricare: Transitional health care

The Transitional Assistance Management Program provides 180 days of transitional health care benefits to help certain eligible service members and families transition to civilian life.

This includes those involuntarily separating from active duty under honorable conditions; National Guard and reserve members separating from active duty of more than 30 consecutive days in support of a contingency operation; those separating from active duty following involuntary retention (stop-loss) in support of a contingency operation, and those separating from active duty following a voluntary agreement to stay on active duty for less than one year in support of a contingency operation.

There are no enrollment fees for TAMP coverage. For those who qualify, the 180-day period begins the day after separation from active duty. Service members and families are covered under Tricare Standard and Tricare Extra. Those living overseas get the same coverage under Tricare Overseas Standard. Service members and their families are covered as an active-duty family member, and all rules for that beneficiary category apply to them.

During the TAMP period, service members may choose to enroll in Tricare Prime and Tricare Overseas Prime, where those are available.

Once beneficiaries lose TAMP coverage, they may apply for temporary, transitional health care coverage under the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (www .tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/overview /SpecialPrograms/CHCBP). Those eligible must enroll in CHCBP within 60 days of loss of TAMP benefits, and pay monthly premiums for continuous health care benefits similar to Tricare Standard. Coverage is limited to either 18 or 36 months in 90-day increments.

Contact: www.humana-military.com /library/pdf/tamp.pdf