TRICARE offers Prime option for young adults

  • Published
  • By Brian P. Smith
  • TriWest Healthcare Alliance
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Military families have a new TRICARE Prime option for young adults without healthcare coverage.

TRICARE Young Adult Prime gives eligible family members TRICARE Prime medical and pharmacy coverage for a $201 monthly premium.

Military family members who are not married, who have "aged out" of other TRICARE eligibility (up to age 26) and who have a TRICARE-eligible sponsor are eligible to purchase TRICARE Young Adult coverage. Enrollees can now choose either TYA Standard or TYA Prime coverage, based on eligibility. The choice will determine the monthly premium, out-of-pockets costs and how participants access care. Each TYA program allows access to the TRICARE pharmacy benefit.

TYA Standard enrollment is available now. Enrollment applications for TYA Prime are being accepted and coverage will begin on January 1, 2012. Complete information, along with the application form, is available at TriWest.com/TYA.

TYA Prime Features:
  • Little to no out-of-pocket costs for care
  • $201 monthly premium for 2012
  • Sponsor must be eligible for TRICARE Prime (or TRICARE Prime Remote)
  • Coverage is available in those Prime Service Areas where TRICARE Prime is available
  • Open enrollment, but coverage start date depends on when the application is received
  • Access care from a primary care manager, TRICARE network providers and at military hospitals
  • Referrals needed for most specialty care
TYA Standard Features:
  •  Annual deductible and cost-shares
  • $176 monthly premium for 2012
  • Sponsor must be eligible for TRICARE (and enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Retired Reserve if eligible)
  • Continuous and open enrollment
  • Access care from any TRICARE-authorized provider
  • No referrals needed
Enrolling into TRICARE Young Adult requires setting up automatic recurring payments for monthly premiums. Participants can set up payments through either credit or debit card or through a monthly electronic funds transfer from a bank account. Premiums can change each year on January 1.