Transitional medical benefits can help bridge gap Published March 4, 2008 FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFPN) -- Each year thousands of servicemembers separate from the service before they are eligible for retirement. Making the transition from military to civilian can be a challenge, but there is support to help servicemembers and their families meet their health care needs. "As our warriors transition from the sacrifices of serving their nation, we don't want them to have to worry about having health coverage," said Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, the deputy director of the TRICARE Management Activity. "These programs are here to help bridge the gap between military health benefits and a civilian health plan." The Transitional Assistance Management Program, or TAMP, provides 180 days of transitional health care benefits to certain uniformed services members and their families, if the servicemember is: -- Involuntarily separating from active duty under honorable conditions. -- An Air National Guard or Reserve member separating from active duty after a period of more than 30 consecutive days in support of a contingency operation. -- Separating from active duty following involuntary retention (stop-loss) in support of a contingency operation. -- Separating from active duty following a voluntary agreement to stay on active duty for less than one year in support of a contingency operation. For those who qualify, the 180-day TAMP period begins upon the active duty sponsor's separation. Separating active duty servicemembers and deactivating National Guard or Reserve members who are eligible for the TAMP must reside in a TRICARE Prime service area or in an overseas area in which TRICARE Prime Overseas is offered in order to use these Prime programs during the 180-day TAMP period. Beneficiaries eligible for Prime or Prime Overseas during TAMP must enroll or reenroll (if enrolled in a Prime program during the active duty period) at the beginning of the TAMP period. Those eligible for TAMP who do not reside in a Prime area can use TRICARE Standard and Extra or TRICARE Standard Overseas. For separating active duty servicemembers and deactivating National Guard and Reserve members, TRICARE Prime coverage during TAMP will be slightly different than it was during the Active Duty service period. During TAMP, beneficiaries are covered as an Active Duty family member and all rules for that beneficiary category apply, including any applicable deductibles, cost shares and copayments. For more information on TAMP, visit www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/overview/SpecialPrograms/TAMP or contact the regional contractor. National Guard and Reserve members may qualify for and purchase TRICARE Reserve Select, or TRS. TRS is a voluntary, premium-based health care plan that is only available when you are a member of the Select Reserve and are not eligible for any other non-premium-based TRICARE health coverage (like when serving on active duty or if covered under the TAMP), or eligible for the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program. To learn more about TRS visit www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/overview/Plans/ReserveSelect. Individuals who lose TRICARE eligibility or other coverage under the Military Health System are eligible for temporary health care coverage through the Continued Health Care Benefit Program, or CHCBP. CHCBP is not part of TRICARE, but provides similar benefits and operates under most of the rules of TRICARE Standard. CHCBP is a premium-based health care program administered by Humana Military Healthcare Services, Inc. CHCBP offers temporary transitional health coverage (18 to 36 months) after TRICARE eligibility ends. Beneficiaries who qualify can purchase CHCBP within 60 days of loss of eligibility for either regular TRICARE or TAMP coverage. Who is eligible? Under certain circumstances, the following beneficiaries may be eligible: -- Former active duty servicemembers released from active duty (under other than adverse conditions) and their eligible family members. Coverage is limited to 18 months. -- Unremarried former spouses who were eligible for TRICARE on the day before the date of the final decree of divorce, dissolution, or annulment. Coverage is usually limited to 36 months. However, some unremarried former spouses may continue coverage beyond 36 months if they meet certain criteria. Contact Humana Military for details. -- Children who cease to meet the requirements to be an eligible family member and were eligible for TRICARE on the day before ceasing to meet those requirements. Coverage is limited to 36 months. -- Certain unmarried children by adoption or legal custody. Coverage is limited to 36 months. For more information about CHCBP, visit www.humana military.com/chcbp/main.htm or call 1-800-444-5445. Contact the regional contractor or a beneficiary counseling and assistance coordinator to discuss eligibility for this program. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page