Posted on May 2, 2018
What are the options for medical insurance for a dependent son graduating from college and going into military?
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We are an active duty family and have a son who is graduating college in May. He will be commissioned in June via ROTC, and his original report date was in December, but was changed. He was told he"should" be entering active duty in the Air Force in September. He is 22 now, but will be 23 also in September.
He is currently on our medical insurance, Tricare Prime, but I understand that stops as soon as he graduates. If Tricare Primes stops when he graduates, and he's not covered by Tricare until he is officially on duty, how does he get medical insurance in case something happens? I understand you can pay for Tricare, but I hear that costs $400 a month. What do other students do until they get medical coverage from a job? Certainly they can't pay $400 a month without a job. We will pay the $400 a month if we have to, but that's going to add up pretty quick. His report date can be pushed out, and I understand he's not covered until he actually does report. Does ObamaCare somehow come into play here?
There is too much at stake and we can't let him not be covered. Does anyone have any experience, suggestions, comments regarding this? Thank you in advance!
He is currently on our medical insurance, Tricare Prime, but I understand that stops as soon as he graduates. If Tricare Primes stops when he graduates, and he's not covered by Tricare until he is officially on duty, how does he get medical insurance in case something happens? I understand you can pay for Tricare, but I hear that costs $400 a month. What do other students do until they get medical coverage from a job? Certainly they can't pay $400 a month without a job. We will pay the $400 a month if we have to, but that's going to add up pretty quick. His report date can be pushed out, and I understand he's not covered until he actually does report. Does ObamaCare somehow come into play here?
There is too much at stake and we can't let him not be covered. Does anyone have any experience, suggestions, comments regarding this? Thank you in advance!
Military Family
Insurance
Dependents
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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He is eligeable for TriCare Prime young adult until age 26. The premium is paid under your program. My son was in it after graduating Georgetown for almost two years. It was at the time around $250 ish per month. I hope this gets you started. Thank you for your service.
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Sgt John Lewis
CSM Darieus, what do you mean "The premium is paid under your program"? Paid by who? Are you talking about the Tricare "Young Adult" program? I thought that was to be paid be the recipient? Thanks!
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I don't know this for sure, but perhaps he can be temporarily assigned to the Air Force command that Cadets belong to while he is waiting for orders, as an excess officer. That way he is covered by Tricare Prime. Also, if he is currently in the AF Reserve and is drilling, he is eligible for Tricare Select Reserve, which is about $80/month for a single Soldier.
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Sgt John Lewis
I don't think they assign ROTC cadets to anything until they report. He has a CAC card and is considered enlisted, but not active duty. I know they wouldn't have covered him during college, so I assume the same would be true if he's out. Thanks!
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CPT (Join to see)
Army must be different. If a Cadet commissions into the active duty Army, he is an active duty officer and should have orders in hand when he graduates, thus being covered by Tricare Prime. If he is considered “enlisted” he is a drilling reservist or Guardsman and is this entitled to Tricare Select Reserve. Like I said, I only have worked with Army ROTC. If your telling me that AF ROTC leaves their officers dangling in the breeze like that, that’s a bad business practice.
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