Download

Download eBook for Free

Full Document

FormatFile SizeNotes
PDF file 0.4 MB

Use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher for the best experience.

Summary Only

FormatFile SizeNotes
PDF file 0.1 MB

Use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher for the best experience.

Purchase

Purchase Print Copy

 FormatList Price Price
Add to Cart Paperback89 pages $20.00 $16.00 20% Web Discount

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.

The research described in this report was sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and was conducted jointly by RAND Health and the RAND National Defense Research Institute, a federally funded research and development center supported by the OSD, the Joint Staff, the unified commands, and the defense agencies.

This report is part of the RAND Corporation Technical report series. RAND technical reports may include research findings on a specific topic that is limited in scope or intended for a narrow audience; present discussions of the methodology employed in research; provide literature reviews, survey instruments, modeling exercises, guidelines for practitioners and research professionals, and supporting documentation; or deliver preliminary findings. All RAND reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure that they meet high standards for research quality and objectivity.

This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.

The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.