New Tricare Eligibility Changes for Reserves and Family Members
This MARADMIN announces new TRICARE eligibility changes for activated Reserve Marines and their families, effective March 10, 2003. The policy reduces the activation threshold for TRICARE Prime enrollment from 179 days to just 30 days of active duty orders. Family members may also enroll in TRICARE Prime Remote based on the service member's residence before mobilization if they live at least 50 miles from a military treatment facility.
Issued: March 24, 2003
1. STARTING MARCH 10, 2003, ACTIVATED RESERVISTS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, IF THE MARINE IS ON ACTIVE DUTY ORDERS FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS, WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO ENROLL IN TRICARE PRIME. THE PREVIOUS POLICY WAS FOR ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBERS OF RESERVISTS CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY FOR MORE THAN 179 DAYS. 2. THIS POLICY ALSO ALLOWS RESERVE FAMILY MEMBERS TO ENROLL IN TRICARE PRIME REMOTE BASED ON THE SERVICE MEMBER'S RESIDENCE BEFORE MOBILIZATION. FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO BE ELIGIBLE TO ENROLL IN THE TRICARE PRIME REMOTE FOR ACTIVE DUTY FAMILY MEMBERS (TPRADFM) PROGRAM, SPONSORS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS MUST RESIDE AT A LOCATION THAT IS AT LEAST 50 MILES OR MORE IN DISTANCE, OR APPROXIMATELY A ONE-HOUR DRIVE FROM THE NEAREST MILITARY TREATMENT FACILITY (MTF). 3. DEERS INFORMATION MUST BE ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE FOR ACTIVATED RESERVISTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. 4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE TRICARE WEB SITE AT WWW.TRICARE.OSD.MIL/RESERVE OR BY CALLING THE DOD WORLDWIDE TRICARE INFORMATION CENTER AT 1-888-363-5433 OR 1-877-363-6337, OPERATING HOURS: 0900-1900 MON-FRI, 1100-1630 SAT (EST).