5/14/2013 - WASHINGTON -- Beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Retired Reserve who pay monthly premiums by check must switch to an electronic form of payment by May 31 to avoid losing coverage.
TRICARE will only accept monthly premium payments using recurring automatic payments by credit or debit card, or by recurring electronic funds transfer from a linked bank account. To avoid confusion, beneficiaries should verify that their bank sends EFT payments electronically.
The Defense Manpower Data Center notified current TRR and TRS beneficiaries directly by email, and new beneficiaries were informed in their welcome package information when enrolling.
Electronic payments streamline account management and ensure continuous coverage for beneficiaries. Failure to pay premiums by the due date results in termination of coverage.
Beneficiaries can contact their regional contractor to set up automatic payments and get more information.
"There are still a considerable number of Air Force reservists in the west region who have yet to establish their automated payment option with TRICARE for their monthly TRS/TRR premiums," said James F. Walsh, Air Force Reserve chief of Benefits and Entitlements Policy. "Those members who do not have this requirement established by the deadline will have their coverage suspended and possibly terminated for 12 months come June 1," he said.
