Congress recently passed legislation that will impact TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries who are not enrolled with US Family Health Plan. After September 30, 2012, TRICARE beneficiaries 65 years or older will not be able to enroll in any TRICARE Prime option, including US Family Health Plan.
In addition, anyone enrolling with US Family Health Plan after September 30, 2012 will be disenrolled from the plan upon reaching age 65—unless they join on or before September 30. Only members who enroll on or before September 30 will be eligible to remain with US Family Health Plan beyond age 65.
Current US Family Health Plan members, or those who join the plan before September 30, 2012, are not affected by the legislation. Those members will be “grandfathered” into the Plan and can remain in the Plan for life, regardless of age.
For Current Members:
The legislation does not impact current US Family Health Plan members. Members with an effective date on or before September 30, 2012 regardless of age are grandfathered into the Plan and retain their eligibility.
For Non-Members:
For a very short time, TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries can be grandfathered into lifetime enrollment in US Family Health Plan: but they must enroll no later than September 30, 2012. After September 30, the Plan will only able to accept new members under age 65.
- Current TRICARE Prime enrollees have until September 30, 2012 to transfer their enrollment to US Family Health Plan and be grandfathered into the Plan for life.
- Current TRICARE Standard users must enroll by September 1, 2012 to be grandfathered into US Family Health Plan for life.
- Current TRICARE-for-Life users must enroll by September 1, 2012 to be grandfathered into US Family Health Plan for life.
US Family Health Plan continues to be the highest rated health care plan in the military health system, with 91% of members reporting high satisfaction, 45% higher than the national average of health plans.
As we have done over the entire 30-year history of our program, we will continue to be advocates for all of the military families and retirees we proudly serve through our longstanding focus on high-quality health care, access and superior customer service.
