Haris Ashley
Military personnel and their families have access to TRICARE, the Army's health insurance program. TRICARE offers comprehensive coverage, including medical, dental, and vision plans, as well as life insurance and prescription options. Military members can also sign up for Service Members' Group Life Insurance (SGLI), a low-cost group life insurance plan. Additionally, veterans who have served in designated locations or were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving may be eligible for VA health care benefits.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is eligible? | Soldiers, retirees, veterans, and their families |
| What does it cover? | Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and prescriptions |
| How much does it cost? | Little to no cost; lower copays and cost shares for non-active beneficiaries |
| Where can it be used? | Worldwide, with some limits overseas |
| Are there any special programs? | Yes, including programs for those with special needs, mental health, and substance use disorders |
| How do I find a provider? | Use the TRICARE Military Treatment Facility Locator to find the nearest MTF by ZIP code or military installation |
| What if I need additional coverage? | You can purchase additional coverage through TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Young Adult |
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What You'll Learn
- TRICARE: Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and life insurance for soldiers and their families
- Veterans Affairs: Medical care for veterans exposed to toxins and hazards while serving
- Service Members' Group Life Insurance: Low-cost life insurance for active-duty soldiers
- Healthcare.gov: A resource for veterans to determine eligibility for health insurance
- Military bases: Medical care for soldiers and their families with no out-of-pocket expenses
TRICARE: Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and life insurance for soldiers and their families
Soldiers and their families can benefit from comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance through TRICARE, the Army's health insurance program. TRICARE provides access to expert medical care on military bases worldwide, without the need to file claims or pay for expenses in most cases. It offers flexibility, allowing service members to choose from various in-network and out-of-network providers.
TRICARE's health plans include coverage for a range of mental health and substance use disorders, with options such as opioid treatment programs, office-based opioid treatment, and emergency inpatient hospital services. It also covers durable medical equipment when prescribed by a doctor. Additionally, TRICARE offers special programs that cater to the needs of individuals with autism, providing services like applied behavior analysis, cancer clinical trials, hospice care, and mental health care.
The TRICARE Pharmacy Program ensures that eligible beneficiaries have access to prescription drugs safely, easily, and affordably. It offers four pharmacy options: military pharmacies, home delivery, network pharmacies, and non-network pharmacies, with worldwide availability, although there are some limits overseas. TRICARE also provides life insurance options, such as the Service Members' Group Life Insurance (SGLI), a low-cost group life insurance plan for Active-Duty, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard Soldiers.
TRICARE's benefits extend beyond active service. Upon retirement, soldiers and their families remain eligible for TRICARE health care benefits. If a soldier retires before their 65th birthday, they continue to receive the same TRICARE benefits as they did while serving in the Army. However, if retirement occurs at age 65 or later, they become eligible for TRICARE For Life, which includes Medicare Part A and B coverage.
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Veterans Affairs: Medical care for veterans exposed to toxins and hazards while serving
Veterans Affairs (VA) provides medical care for veterans exposed to toxins and hazards while serving. This includes veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, and any other combat zone after 9/11. VA health care is also available to veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards during active duty, training, or inactive duty training in the United States. This expansion of VA health care eliminates the phased-in approach called for by the PACT Act, making millions of veterans eligible for healthcare up to eight years earlier than previously allowed.
Veterans exposed to toxins or hazards may have participated in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) involving air pollutants, chemicals, occupational hazards, radiation, or warfare agents. Specific toxins and hazards include chemicals, pesticides, lead, asbestos, certain paints, nuclear weapons, X-rays, and more. VA will use military records and service connection information to determine if a veteran participated in a TERA.
VA health care is available to all veterans who meet the basic service and discharge requirements. Veterans who have just returned from service in Iraq or Afghanistan can receive free medical care for any condition related to their service for 10 years after discharge. In addition, VA health care covers routine eye exams, preventive tests, and, in some cases, eyeglasses or services for blind or low vision rehabilitation. Mental health treatment services are also available, including treatment for mental and physical health problems linked to military sexual trauma (MST).
While serving in the military, soldiers and their families have access to TRICARE, the Army's health insurance program. TRICARE offers comprehensive coverage, including medical, dental, and vision plans, as well as life insurance and pharmacy prescription options. After retiring from service, soldiers continue to have healthcare benefits through the Army and Veterans Affairs. The specific benefits depend on the age of the soldier at retirement. If a soldier retires before their 65th birthday, they and their family remain eligible for TRICARE health care benefits similar to those received while in the Army. If a soldier retires at age 65 or older, they become eligible for TRICARE For Life health care benefits with Medicare Part A and B coverage.
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Service Members' Group Life Insurance: Low-cost life insurance for active-duty soldiers
In the US, soldiers and their families have access to TRICARE, the Army's health insurance program. TRICARE offers comprehensive coverage, including medical, dental, and vision plans, as well as life insurance and pharmacy prescription options. Soldiers can also access expert medical care on military bases worldwide without the need to file claims or pay for expenses in most cases.
Additionally, active-duty soldiers can enrol in the Service Members Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program, which offers low-cost group life insurance. SGLI coverage is available in $50,000 increments up to a maximum of $500,000, and premiums are currently $0.065 per $1,000 of insurance, regardless of the member's age. All service members, including those in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard, can sign up for SGLI.
SGLI is also available to part-time service members who meet certain criteria, such as being a member of the Ready Reserve or National Guard and scheduled to perform a minimum number of training periods per year. Service members who are eligible for full-time SGLI coverage include active-duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, as well as commissioned members of specific organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Furthermore, Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) allows veterans to maintain their life insurance coverage after leaving the military as long as they continue paying the premiums. VGLI is available to those who had SGLI while in the military and are within specific time frames after being released from active duty or retiring from the Reserve or National Guard.
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Healthcare.gov: A resource for veterans to determine eligibility for health insurance
Healthcare.gov is a valuable resource for veterans seeking to determine their eligibility for health insurance. This official US government website provides information on various health care coverage options specifically for military veterans.
Veterans enrolled in the TRICARE program or the Veterans Health Care program are considered covered under the healthcare law and do not need to make any additional changes to their insurance. TRICARE is the primary health care program for service members, retirees, and their families, offering comprehensive coverage, health plans, prescriptions, and dental plans. It also includes special programs for those with special needs, such as cancer clinical trials, mental health care, and skilled nursing facility care.
For veterans who are not enrolled in TRICARE or the Veterans Health Care program, Healthcare.gov provides the option to use the Health Insurance Marketplace to enroll in a suitable plan. This is particularly relevant for dependents of veterans enrolled in a VA health care program who are not eligible for the same program themselves. Depending on household size and income, they may be able to obtain lower costs on monthly premiums and out-of-pocket expenses or even qualify for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Additionally, OEF/OIF/OND combat veterans who have recently returned from service in Iraq or Afghanistan are eligible for free medical care for any condition related to their service for up to 10 years after their discharge. Furthermore, all veterans who meet the basic service and discharge requirements and were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving are now eligible for VA health care. This includes veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11.
Veterans can visit Healthcare.gov to explore these options and determine their eligibility for health insurance coverage, ensuring they receive the care they need.
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Military bases: Medical care for soldiers and their families with no out-of-pocket expenses
Military service members and their families have access to comprehensive health insurance through TRICARE, the Army's health insurance program. This program offers worldwide coverage, including medical, dental, and vision plans, as well as life insurance and pharmacy prescription options. Military bases provide medical care for soldiers and their families, with most services available at no out-of-pocket expense.
TRICARE offers a range of services to meet the diverse needs of military personnel and their families. For those with special needs, TRICARE provides applied behavior analysis, cancer clinical trials, durable medical equipment, home health care, hospice care, mental health care, and skilled nursing facility care. Additionally, TRICARE covers a variety of mental health and substance use disorder treatments, including opioid treatment programs and emergency inpatient hospital services.
Soldiers stationed at military installations can access primary care doctors and military treatment facilities. These facilities, known as MTFs, are easily located through the TRICARE Military Treatment Facility Locator, which allows users to find the nearest MTF by ZIP code or military installation. MTFs provide care not only for service members but also for their families, ensuring that their healthcare needs are met.
TRICARE also offers the TRICARE Pharmacy Program, which provides eligible beneficiaries with safe, easy, and affordable access to prescription drugs. This program includes four pharmacy options: military pharmacies, home delivery, network pharmacies, and non-network pharmacies. Each option is available worldwide, although there may be some limitations for overseas locations.
Furthermore, military health care benefits extend beyond active service. After retirement, soldiers and their families continue to receive healthcare benefits through the Army and Veterans Affairs. If a soldier retires before their 65th birthday, they remain eligible for the same TRICARE health care benefits they received while in active service. However, if they retire at age 65 or older, they become eligible for TRICARE For Life, which includes Medicare Part A and B coverage.
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Frequently asked questions
TRICARE is the health care program for service members, retirees and their families worldwide. It provides comprehensive coverage, health plans, special programs, prescriptions and dental plans.
TRICARE offers several services under the basic TRICARE benefit for those with special needs, including:
- Applied Behavioral Analysis
- Cancer Clinical Trials
- Durable Medical Equipment
- Home Health Care
- Hospice Care
- Mental Health Care
- Skilled Nursing Facility Care
Soldiers and their families are eligible for TRICARE. All service members can also sign up for Service Members’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), low-cost group life insurance for active-duty service members.
