Retiree’s wife: Here’s what to do if you think you’re still covered under Tricare Select Working-age retirees should make sure they ve paid their newly required enrollment fees for Tricare Select. An Army retiree’s wife has a warning for other retirees and their family members: Check to make sure you are still covered under Tricare Select even if you set up payments for the new enrollment fees last year. “I would highly recommend anyone who believes they are enrolled in Tricare Select to verify their enrollment is active, or at least verify the monthly withdrawal is happening as expected,” said Constance Hathaway. On Feb. 8, the day before a scheduled medical procedure, she and her husband an Army retiree discovered they no longer had health insurance through Tricare West although they had set up their automatic payment in October.
Most dependents qualify for one eye exam a year with Tricare coverage. (Stock photo)
Tricare often seems like a never-ending puzzle. Military spouses struggle to figure out what is covered, which provider they can see, and what has changed since the last time they visited the doctor.
Vision coverage is a little easier to understand if you have Tricare Prime and no additional insurance.
What does Tricare cover for vision?
When it comes to eye coverage, Tricare vision benefits may cover exams or other services, depending on your age, your coverage and your beneficiary status.
As an active-duty family member, you get one routine eye exam each year. One well-child eye exam for those between the ages of 3 and 6 is covered every two years to screen for amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eyes) at no cost. But that s pretty much it. If you need more exams or appointments, you may be able to get them after a referral from your primary care manager.
Will Tricare Cover My Birth Control?
Birth control, a covered Tricare benefit, comes in many forms, including a daily pill shown here. (Stock photo)
Learning the military health care system can be overwhelming as a new spouse, including whether Tricare covers birth control. But some things can t wait, like continuing your prescriptions from before you were married or getting started with a new one. If you re on birth control or want to be on birth control, here s what you need to know.
How do you get birth control from Tricare?
Once you re enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and have an ID card, you can make an appointment to see your primary care manager (PCM). If you have Tricare Prime, you re seen on the installation, in most cases. You can make an appointment by logging onto TricareOnline.com or by calling your local appointment line. If you have Tricare Select, you can choose a provider and give their office a call.