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I state the following at the end of
this discussion of Medigap, but it is actually the first step in my
counseling of the client about Medigap.
Before beginning my Medigap counseling with clients, I have
started asking them whether they are military retirees, or spouses or
survivors of military retirees.
I immediately bring up this subject, because the above three
groups may be eligible for free TRICARE For Life (equivalent to
Medigap) and makes a discussion on premium Medigap unnecessary. If the answer is in the affirmative,
I bring to the attention of the client an outline of the Department
of Defense health program, TRICARE for Life. This health program provides,
effective October 1, 2001, Medicare secondary coverage to uniformed
services retirees (including guardsman and reservists), their family
members and survivors, age 65 and over.
They also must have Medicare Part A, be enrolled in Part B and
need to be registered in DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Records
System). Combined with the TRICARE Senior
Pharmacy Program, already implemented April 2001, enrollees will have
little or no out-of-pocket costs for medical services or prescriptions,
and no premium costs. Any one
with questions about TRICARE For Life should call 1-866-773-0404, and
call 1-877-363-6337 to learn more about the TRICARE Senior Pharmacy
Program.
If you have any questions or doubts about Medigap, I
suggest that you look for one-on-one counseling help. In New York State
I urge that you obtain the assistance of an HIICAP volunteer counselor
from the Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance
Program. In New York City call 212-341-3979 for the nearest NYC site.
Outside NYC call NYS-HIICAP Toll Free Hot Line for the Aging 1-800-701-0501
for the location where you can obtain personal assistance. As I do at
the end of each Web page, I urge you to read the literature and use the
Web sites listed on the Resources Page as part of a self-education
program. There are also listed telephone numbers for answers to
specific questions and sources for one-on-one personal assistance.
Updated: May 20, 2008
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