FALLS CHURCH, Va. –
Have you ever received a medical bill that was higher or lower than you expected it to be? If so, you aren’t alone. Health care cost language can often be confusing, and it may not always be clear how much you need to pay for a particular heath service. The good news is that familiarizing yourself with
cost terms and
how your TRICARE plan works, can help you get the most out of your coverage and avoid surprises.
“Knowing which
beneficiary group you fall into is a good place to start,” said Mark Ellis, chief of the Policy and Programs Section of the TRICARE Health Plan at the Defense Health Agency. “Whether you’re in Group A or Group B is part of what determines your enrollment fees or premiums and any other per service out-of-pocket expenses you may have with your TRICARE plan.”
Here are some other common TRICARE cost terms to look out for the next time you need to see your doctor or pay your bill.
Enrollment Fee
Are you a retiree or retiree family member who isn’t eligible for Medicare? If so, you may be required to pay an
enrollment fee—an annual amount—for your TRICARE coverage. This applies to
TRICARE Prime (including
US Family Health Plan) and
TRICARE Select. Active duty service members (ADSMS) and their family members have no enrollment fees.
Premium
Depending on your health plan, you may have a monthly or quarterly premium. This is the amount you pay to maintain your TRICARE coverage. Premiums apply to
premium-based plans, such as:
TRICARE-allowable charge
This is the maximum amount TRICARE will pay a doctor or other provider for a procedure, service, or equipment. This applies to all TRICARE plans. According to the
TRICARE Choices in the United States Handbook, “Nonparticipating non-network providers may charge up to 15% above the TRICARE-allowable amount.” Keep in mind, this doesn’t apply to your catastrophic cap, which we’ll touch on below.
Catastrophic Cap
The
catastrophic cap is the most you pay out of pocket each year for
TRICARE covered services. This includes costs, like enrollment fees, deductibles, copayments, and other cost-shares based on the TRICARE-allowable charge. Remember that not at all costs apply to the catastrophic cap. These exceptions include:
Annual deductible
A
deductible is the amount you pay before cost-sharing actually begins. It applies to these plans:
Remember, if you’re enrolled in a
TRICARE Prime plan, you have to meet your annual deductible when using the
point-of-service option. This option allows non-ADSMs to see a TRICARE-authorized provider other than their primary care manager for any nonemergency services without a referral.
Cost-share
A
cost-share is the percentage of the total cost of a covered health care service that you pay after your annual deductible is met (if a deductible applies to your plan). Sometimes you may have more than one cost-share, depending on the type of care you receive. An example of this would be if you see different doctors on the same day. Cost-shares aren’t applicable to ADSMs.
Copayment
This is often mistaken for cost-share and vice-versa, but these two terms are different. The difference is that a
copayment is a fixed dollar amount (for example, $30) that you pay for a covered service or prescription, whereas a cost-share is the percentage of the total cost (for example, 25%). Copayments also depend on your TRICARE plan, beneficiary category, group, the type of service you receive, and whether the service is provided by a network provider.
Keep in mind, ADSMs don’t have any out-of-pocket costs. If you’re an active duty family member enrolled in a TRICARE Prime plan, you won’t have copayments unless you’re using the
point-of-service option or filling a prescription outside of a
military pharmacy.
Looking for more on this topic? Visit the
TRICARE Cost Terms page for definitions. The
TRICARE Costs and Fees Sheet and
TRICARE Compare Cost Tool are also helpful if you need to see specific dollar amounts. And, of course, your
TRICARE contractor is available if you have questions. By understanding cost terms, you can make informed health care decisions for you and your family.