Tricare details process for those leaving the plan

Tricare said this week that it will no longer issue "certificates of creditable coverage" to beneficiaries who lose Tricare eligibility or choose to leave the plan.

The reason, Tricare said, is that before passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2011, people transitioning off Tricare coverage had to prove to new insurers that they had coverage in order to be accepted into a new plan—or they might be rejected due to prior illnesses or injuries.

But under the ACA, insurers no longer can deny coverage based on preexisting conditions.

Because the certificates are no longer required, Tricare beneficiaries leaving the plan instead will receive a notice that the Tricare coverage is ending. The notice also will include information about other options like the Tricare's Transitional Assistance Management Program, and information on how to explore options on state ACA health exchanges.

Tricare noted that beneficiaries may lose coverage for a number of common reasons, such as separating from active duty, aging out or choosing to stop paying for a premium-based Tricare plan such as Tricare Retired Reserve, Reserve Select, Young Adult or the Continuing Health Care Plan Benefit.