Health benefits for Medicare-eligible military retirees : rationalizing TRICARE for life / Michael Schoenbaum ... [et al.].

Contributor(s):

Publisher: Santa Monica, CA : RAND, 2004Description: xviii, 71 pages ; 28 cmContent type:

text

Media type:

unmediated

Carrier type:

volume

ISBN:

0833036491 (pbk. : alk. paper)

Subject(s):

LOC classification:

UB449 .H43 2004

Online resources:

Online Access

Available additional physical forms:

Also available on the internet via WWW in PDF format.

Contents:

Introduction -- Medicare and TRICARE Benefits and Coverage Policies -- TRICARE for Life Beneficiary Cost-Sharing for Civilian Care -- Managing Military Treatment Facility Care Provided to TRICARE for Life Beneficiaries -- Models for Medicare's Sharing in Military Treatment Facility Costs -- Conclusions and Recommendations.

Summary: The 2001 National Defense Authorization Act expanded eligibility for coverage under TRICARE, the Department of Defense (DoD) health program, to Medicare-eligible military retirees age 65 and over. Medicare-eligible military retirees enrolled in Medicare Part B became entitled to both Medicare and TRICARE health care benefits--coverage referred to as TRICARE for Life (TFL). Under TFL, Medicare is the primary payer and TRICARE the secondary payer for Medicare-covered services. In addition, TRICARE covers all cost sharing by patients, including Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. This report examines the TFL benefit design and TFL's potential benefits and costs for the DoD, Medicare, beneficiaries, and taxpayers. The authors summarize issues and policy options that were discussed in several briefings presented to the DoD for its consideration for improving TFL in the future. The authors offer policy options to rationalize benefits by considering changes in the TFL benefit structure, promote ease of operations by improving compatibility with Medicare benefits, improve efficiency by promoting optimal use of direct-care services, and improve the overall benefit package for Medicare-eligible military retirees. The 2001 National Defense Authorization Act expanded eligibility for coverage under TRICARE, the Department of Defense (DoD) health program, to Medicare-eligible military retirees age 65 and over. Medicare-eligible military retirees enrolled in Medicare Part B became entitled to both Medicare and TRICARE health care benefits--coverage referred to as TRICARE for Life (TFL). Under TFL, Medicare is the primary payer and TRICARE the secondary payer for Medicare-covered services. In addition, TRICARE covers all cost sharing by patients, including Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. This report examines the TFL benefit design and TFL's potential benefits and costs for the DoD, Medicare, beneficiaries, and taxpayers. The authors summarize issues and policy options that were discussed in several briefings presented to the DoD for its consideration for improving TFL in the future. The authors offer policy options to rationalize benefits by considering changes in the TFL benefit structure, promote ease of operations by improving compatibility with Medicare benefits, improve efficiency by promoting optimal use of direct-care services, and improve the overall benefit package for Medicare-eligible military retirees.

Item type:

Average rating: 0.0 (0 votes)

Holdings ( 0 )
Title notes ( 6 )

No physical items for this record

"RAND National Defense Research Institute and RAND Health."

Cover title.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-71).

The 2001 National Defense Authorization Act expanded eligibility for coverage under TRICARE, the Department of Defense (DoD) health program, to Medicare-eligible military retirees age 65 and over. Medicare-eligible military retirees enrolled in Medicare Part B became entitled to both Medicare and TRICARE health care benefits--coverage referred to as TRICARE for Life (TFL). Under TFL, Medicare is the primary payer and TRICARE the secondary payer for Medicare-covered services. In addition, TRICARE covers all cost sharing by patients, including Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. This report examines the TFL benefit design and TFL's potential benefits and costs for the DoD, Medicare, beneficiaries, and taxpayers. The authors summarize issues and policy options that were discussed in several briefings presented to the DoD for its consideration for improving TFL in the future. The authors offer policy options to rationalize benefits by considering changes in the TFL benefit structure, promote ease of operations by improving compatibility with Medicare benefits, improve efficiency by promoting optimal use of direct-care services, and improve the overall benefit package for Medicare-eligible military retirees. The 2001 National Defense Authorization Act expanded eligibility for coverage under TRICARE, the Department of Defense (DoD) health program, to Medicare-eligible military retirees age 65 and over. Medicare-eligible military retirees enrolled in Medicare Part B became entitled to both Medicare and TRICARE health care benefits--coverage referred to as TRICARE for Life (TFL). Under TFL, Medicare is the primary payer and TRICARE the secondary payer for Medicare-covered services. In addition, TRICARE covers all cost sharing by patients, including Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. This report examines the TFL benefit design and TFL's potential benefits and costs for the DoD, Medicare, beneficiaries, and taxpayers. The authors summarize issues and policy options that were discussed in several briefings presented to the DoD for its consideration for improving TFL in the future. The authors offer policy options to rationalize benefits by considering changes in the TFL benefit structure, promote ease of operations by improving compatibility with Medicare benefits, improve efficiency by promoting optimal use of direct-care services, and improve the overall benefit package for Medicare-eligible military retirees.

Also available on the internet via WWW in PDF format.