Question about Vet health coverage

[SHRED]

Who is or isn't covered (dependents included?) during this call up, regarding the National Guard and the Military Reserves?

I have "googled" around a bit but what are you called up vets experiencing?
My friend was in the Reserves and called up for "Desert Storm". He received full health care coverage.

[BOSSHOG]

1. If a reservist or guardsman is ordered to active duty

any dependents he/she may have will be entered into DEERS - Defense Eligibility Enrollment System which allows them access to medical facilities on military bases or their medical care is covered by the military insurance TRICARE if no military facilities are available. TRICARE insurance is paid to providers who choose to accept military dependents. Not all Doctors or facilities accept the insurance but it is available in every area of the country.

[BamaGirl]

2. We had

Tricare the entire time my husband was activated (that's anytime orders are for more than 30 days) and since he was activated for 2 years, we continued to have Tricare for 6 months after he came home. I think you get 3 months of extra coverage if the activation was a year or less.

[villagechild]

3. line of duty

My understanding of the guard and reserves is that the VA will treat, up to 2 years, any combat related injury (maybe enough time to agressively seek a service-connected disability rating from the VA). Line of duty is different for G&R as well ... while the regular military is LOD 24 x 7, the G&R are covered only during active training and active military duty: boots on the ground. In other words, these folks really must stay on top of their medical records: document all injuries, illnesses and disease related to training time and active service time. There is no entitlement to VA medical care for any non-combat related or non-training injuries, unless retired.

[haele]

4. From the mouth of TriCare, itself...

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20041029-1454.html

Tricare Benefits Improved Significantly For Reservists

For reserve component members with delayed effective date orders to serve on active duty in support of a contingency operation for more than 30 days, the new legislation permanently authorizes Tricare eligibility for up to 90 days prior to member’s activation date for eligible members and their families. It also makes permanent a 180-day transitional Tricare health benefit after deactivation for Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) eligible members and their families. Members must also now receive a comprehensive physical examination prior to separating from active duty service.

The legislation also authorizes waiver of the Tricare standard and extra deductibles of reserve component family members for members ordered to active duty for more than 30 days and authorizes Tricare to pay nonparticipating providers up to 115 percent of the Tricare maximum allowable charge, which enhances continuity of care for these family members with their civilian providers. In order to ensure seamless implementation of these provisions, Tricare has extended the Tricare Reserve Family Demonstration Project through Oct. 31, 2005. The demonstration, which began on Sept. 14, 2001, was due to end Nov. 1, 2004.

Members of the reserve component called after Sept. 11, 2001, to serve for more than 30 days in support of a contingency operation, who served or will continuously serve for 90 or more days, are now given the opportunity to purchase Tricare standard healthcare coverage for themselves and their family members after they demobilize. The member must sign an agreement to continue serving for a period of one year or more in the selected reserve after their active duty ends. For every 90 days of consecutive active duty service, the member and family member may purchase one year of Tricare standard coverage for the same period they commit to serve in the selected reserves. Members will be able to purchase the new Tricare standard coverage on a self-only or self and family basis. The Tricare standard coverage under this program will begin once the member’s eligibility for 180 days of transitional Tricare coverage under the TAMP program ends. Members who served on active duty in support of a contingency operation for 90 days or more on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and were released from active duty before Oct. 28, 2004, or within 180 days of that date, may enter into an agreement to serve continuously in the selected reserve for a period of one or more years and begin participation in this program at that time. These members must enter into this agreement to serve in the selected reserve within one year of Oct. 28, 2004.

Still no TriCare medical/pharmacy for reservists or guard members and their dependants who are reserved or have not been called up until they are 55 years of age.
But retired reservists and their dependants are now eligible for TriCare dental services, no matter what age they are.

Haele