Reservists offered Tricare Reserve Select

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rob Mims
  • Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs
DENVER (AFPN) --  Tricare Reserve Select, the premium-based health coverage plan for eligible Selected Reserve and participating Individual Ready Reserve members, has been enhanced by offering three tiers of coverage.

Tier 1 certification started June 1 and is primarily for reservists who have served in support of a contingency. Now the Air Reserve Personnel Center is taking applications for Tiers 2 and 3. These applications must be postmarked by Sept. 25 for coverage effective Oct. 1. Any applications postmarked from Sept. 26 to Nov. 25 will receive coverage effective Jan. 1.

To qualify for Tier 2 coverage individuals must:

-- Be a member of the Selected Reserve who is eligible to receive unemployment compensation under state law for which TRS Tier 2 coverage is provided;

-- Be a member who is in the Selected Reserve and is not eligible for an employer-sponsored health plan or the employer does not offer a health insurance plan;

-- Enter into a service agreement to serve continuously in the Selected Reserve for the period of TRS Tier 2 coverage;

-- Be a member of the Selected Reserve and be self-employed when self-employment is the primary source of annual income, as reported to the Internal Revenue Service; or,

-- Be an IRR member serving in the Selected Reserve by end of the one-year period given to find a position.

Members must pay 50 percent of the cost of the premiums for Tier 2.

To qualify for Tier 3 coverage individuals must:

-- Not qualify for Tier 1 or Tier 2 coverage; or,

-- Enter into a service agreement to serve continuously in the Selected Reserve for the period of TRS Tier 3 coverage.

-- Be an IRR member serving in the Selected Reserve by end of the one-year period given to find a position.

Members must pay 85 percent of the cost of the premiums for Tier 3.

These are basic eligibility criteria. Members who think they are eligible for Tier 2 or Tier 3 coverage can go to the Guard/Reserve Portal at www.dmdc.osd.mil/Guard-ReservePortal and complete the DD Form 2895, "Agreement to Serve in the Selected Reserve for TRICARE Reserve Select." Once signed, it should signed by the commander. The ARPC Contact Center must be contacted at 800-525-0102 to execute the agreement.