TRICARE News Release
2009-06-03

Monthly premiums for member coverage dropped on Jan. 1, 2009 from $81 to $47.51. Member-and-family coverage dropped from $253 to $180.17. These price reductions made the program even more affordable and the number of total TRS plans is up about 29 percent since December 2008.

Originating in 2005, Congress expanded TRS in 2006 with a complex three-tiered premium structure. Congress streamlined TRS in 2007 by merging the three tiers into a single tier. Premium prices were reduced in January 2009.

According to Dr. Richard Bannick of TRICARE Management Activity’s Health Program Analysis and Evaluation Division, “numbers are definitely increasing, particularly among ages 18 to 34.”

Nearly 60 percent of those participating in a recent TRS survey say the program changes made in 2007 were the reason they chose to purchase TRS or continue their coverage. More than 9,000 additional Selected Reserve members have purchased TRS plans since the premiums dropped, resulting in an increase of total covered beneficiaries of more than 22,000. This means that nearly 105,000 Reserve members and their family members currently have TRS coverage.

Affordability is the most important reason National Guard and Reserve members, who may lack civilian health insurance options, are increasingly purchasing TRS coverage. Generosity of benefits is also a frequently cited reason for purchase according to the survey.

Selected Reservists in TRS report comparable satisfaction and access to medical care providers compared to their non-TRS counterparts. They are also more likely to report getting care right away and having good communication with providers according to Bannick.

TRS is only available to qualified members of the Selected Reserve. They cannot be eligible for, or covered by, the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program. For instance, National Guard or Reserve personnel are not eligible to purchase TRS if their spouse has a family plan under FEHB and the member is covered (enrolled) under FEHB or if the member is eligible for the FEHB program.

TRS delivers coverage similar to TRICARE Standard and Extra to qualified members who purchase the coverage and pay monthly premiums. The plan features continuously open enrollment.

Selected Reserve members can follow the instructions to qualify for, and purchase, coverage directly through the Guard and Reserve Web portal found at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/trs/index.jsp or they can access the portal through the TRICARE TRS page at http://www.tricare.mil/trs.

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