Posted on Jan 6, 2025
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
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So - assuming everyone knows TRICARE changed contractors: "TriWest Healthcare Alliance will replace Health Net Federal Services, LLC as the regional contractor." I went and registered on the new portal for TRICARE West after checking Milconnect and it shows my daughter as not eligible to get an eligibility letter. On the new TRICARE portal on the dashboard, it shows coverage is active for me and then +0. Is that just because they didn't start to transition until 1 Jan? I called the number on the website and was on hold for-ever. Do I just keep going about business as usual with her medical stuff? She's literally the reason I stayed in til retirement to keep TRICARE. I'm looking through TRICARE website and I don't see much info. It just says "If you pay for your TRICARE coverage via military pay system allotment and you’re pleased with your current plan, you don’t need to take any action. You’ll remain enrolled in your existing health plan." So I'm assuming it's taking time to update everything from HFNS to TriWest. Like she's listed on my dashboard on TriWest as a dependent. It's just weird at the top it says coverage is active for me and then "+0" next to it. And on MilConnect I have no option to even check her name under proof of coverage and it says "Any beneficiary who cannot be selected, does not have coverage and cannot be included in an Eligibility Letter."
Posted in these groups: TRICAREImage%2834%29 Healthcare
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CPT Staff Officer
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Well, good. I'm not the only one freaking out.

I was on hold 3+ hours last week trying to figure out my own situation and ensure my auto pay continued.

Crossing fingers.

Good Luck.

***************
Spouse and I went back and forth over winter trying to decide which insurance we put the kids on (Tricare or her company insurance). So the kids are on my Tricare currently.

I think next year we will put the kids on hers, then maybe I can drop Tricare all together and us the VA for just myself (then only needing dental really).

Total thread take over, this Tricare was the LAST THING the Reserves had to incent folks to stay in the Reserves. The pension play and savings is pretty much a cookie cutter plan anyone can get in corporate America. Education benefits such as tuition assistance is on par with any big company offerings (you can flip burgers and get the same tuition assistance at McD's).

Offering same level benefits and against all the things that we hate about the military and the impacts of reserve obligations and civilian obligations are going to come home to roost.

Yes, I'm on the old retirement plan, I'm among the last of that generation. Just wait until NO ONE is on the plan, and can walk with their 401K payouts.

Anyway.............
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SSgt CASS Test Station IMA Advanced Maintenance Technician, IMA
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SGM Mikel Dawson - the Blended Retirment 401K is still managed under the Thrift Savings Plan which is currently classified as a government pension plan.
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CPT Staff Officer
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SGM Mikel Dawson - My understanding is one can DOUBLE DIP so long as the employers and employees are not in the same plans. I can't see how a plan that requires the employee to PAY INTO IT will survive a legal challenge when said plan is reduced, especially if the new employer is not a Federal Agency.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
SGM Mikel Dawson
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CPT (Join to see) - Sir, I never new as I retired under the old plan. I was just wondering how the new plan worked. Would not surprise me one bit if they arranged it so the retiree got screwed. Glad to hear it is ok to DOUBLE DIP.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
9 h
SGM Mikel Dawson - SSI is "needs based" and a private or government pension is an asset that will effect the amount SSI pays. Until recently, SSDI or regular SSA were subject to Windfall Elimination Program if your work had a Pension that wasn't subject to SSA, certain government jobs, teachers, and RR workers, as an example. WEP is now gone, so no reduction anymore. The original reason for WEP is that, using teachers as an example, were treated as low income workers, SSA and SSDI percentages are progressive, the more you earn, the less you get. WEP and GPO was designed to offset that difference.
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