TY - BOOK AU - Schoenbaum,Michael AU - Wynn,Barbara O. AU - Tanielian,Terri L. AU - Harris,Katherine M. AU - Labor,Renee AU - Anthony,C.Ross ED - National Defense Research Institute (U.S.). ED - RAND Health. ED - Rand Corporation. ED - United States. ED - United States. TI - Health benefits for Medicare-eligible military retirees: rationalizing TRICARE for life SN - 0833036491 (pbk. : alk. paper) AV - UB449 .H43 2004 PY - 2004/// CY - Santa Monica, CA PB - RAND KW - United States KW - Department of Defense KW - Rules and practice KW - Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) KW - TRICARE Management Activity KW - Health maintenance organizations KW - Managed care plans (Medical care) KW - Medicare KW - Retired military personnel KW - Medical care KW - Armed Forces KW - Management KW - Veterans KW - Health Services for the Aged KW - economics KW - Health Status KW - Aged KW - Military Medicine N1 - "RAND National Defense Research Institute and RAND Health."; Cover title; Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-71); 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; Also available on the internet via WWW in PDF format N2 - 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 UR - http://www.rand.org/publications/TR/TR118/ ER -