FALLS CHURCH, Va., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of the National Guard federally activated for more than 30 consecutive days in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts can receive military health care benefits to include their TRICARE-eligible family members.
The Deputy Secretary of Defense approved funding for use of the National Guard under Title 32 U.S. Code to support relief efforts effective Aug. 29, 2005. However, it is possible that some National Guard members may remain on state active duty.
National Guard members' personnel offices should update the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) to reflect eligibility for TRICARE benefits if their personnel are activated under or converted to Title 32 orders. In cases of conversion from state active duty to federal, the DEERS update could occur before orders are received.
National Guard members who are not sure if they are activated under Title 32 orders should contact their unit's personnel office to clarify their status.
After DEERS has been updated, family members will be automatically covered under TRICARE Standard and may enroll in TRICARE Prime or Prime Remote, if available in their area.
Guard members serving on State Orders are not eligible for TRICARE health benefits, although they may be eligible for certain health care benefits through their state.
For more information about DEERS enrollment, beneficiaries may visit the TRICARE Web site at http://www.tricare.osd.mil/deers or call the DEERS Support Office at 1-800-538-9552. Beneficiaries can also find the nearest ID card- issuing facility at http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/owa/home.
Beneficiaries may contact the regional contractors: Humana Military Healthcare Services (South region), 1-800-444-5445; HealthNet (North region), 1-877-874-2273; or TriWest (West region), 1-888-874-9378 or visit TRICARE's Web site http://www.tricare.osd.mil for more information about TRICARE benefits.
TRICARE Management ActivityCONTACT: Linda Foote, Deputy Director, Office of Communications,Communications and Customer Service, TRICARE Management Activity,Department of Defense, Health Affairs, +1-703-681-1765, orlinda.foote@tma.osd.mil
