Health Insurance Articles
How Members Of The Military Can Find Low Health Insurance Rates
2011-12-20
Most members of the military do not have to worry about searching for health insurance rates because they are covered by TRICARE, the military's health insurance provider. However, there are a number of TRICARE options that military members and their families are eligible for. In addition, the affordable care act and other factors may soon affect the TRICARE plan. Learning about how health insurance rates can affect you as a military member is important whether you are currently in the military or planning on joining. There are ways for military members to find affordable health insurance rates whether they are using TRICARE or another provider.
TRICARE has three levels - TRICARE Standard, TRICARE Extra, and TRICARE Prime. TRICARE Prime is the standard military health insurance plan. The plan comes at no cost to members and their families, but treatment must be provided at a military treatment facility, in most cases. With TRICARE Extra, military members and their families do pay a deductible each year, but the plan allows military families to choose where they receive care. Finally, in TRICARE Standard, military members and their families pay a discounted rate only when they use healthcare.
For 15 years, military health insurance rates have remained the same. However, new health care costs are making the government consider increasing health insurance rates. The decision is based in part on the increased number of mental and other newer traumas that military members and their families are facing. For example, USA Today reports that a large strain on the military health care budget has been the number of children seeking counseling to deal with the fact that one of their parents is overseas. Although the Military wants to provide these services to its members and their families, the cost to the military is astronomical. Though a change in health insurance rates has not yet been approved, this change may require military members and their families to pay less affordable rates. However, under the affordable care act, a premium increase of more than 10% must be proven justifiable.
Military members and their families who find the military's health insurance plans too expensive can choose private health insurance plans. While TRICARE is available to retirees, ex-military members may also be required to obtain private health insurance or health insurance through an employer. If they have traumatic injuries from serving in the military, members of the military should seek counsel with their local Veterans Administration about how they might lower their health insurance rates.
Members of the military are typically covered by TRICARE, but no matter how they are covered, they can obtain affordable rates if they take the time to investigate their options.
