Military Officer - August 2007 - (Page 16)

osts Climb Health Care C in 5 Years % More than 60 Employers facing Increase in Health Care Costs for 2007 If you have MEDIPLUS, it will pick up where TRICARE leaves off and pay the difference (the “excess”) after you satisfy any applicable TRICARE or MEDIPLUS deductibles. And this is important because excess charges can’t be applied to TRICARE’s $3,000 catastrophic cap. So even if you meet the limit, you’ll still have to pay the excess charges unless you have a TRICARE Supplement like MEDIPLUS! Employers increasing cost shares to employees: Raising contribution requirements, increasing co-pays/deductibles, cutting benefits C ivilian employer health care costs have increased significantly over the past five years. Most Americans covered by employer health care plans will once again be faced with the possibility of sharing more costs through increased contributions, bigger copays, higher deductibles, lower policy maximums and loss of benefits. available under the TRICARE Prime Supplement.) Provides top-notch service For the past 38 years, MOAA has recommended only one TRICARE Supplement. And MOAA wouldn’t endorse it if it didn’t provide you with the best service you deserve. The MEDIPLUS customer service specialists go through a rigorous training process so they know everything about the plan and can answer any question you have. You’ll always receive courteous and prompt service. In addition, MEDIPLUS now includes electronic claims filing, called DirectClaim. With DirectClaim, most of your MEDIPLUS claims will be handled electronically—making it easy and hassle-free for you. If you’re experiencing these types of changes to your health care, consider this affordable alternative available Guarantees your acceptance exclusively to MOAA members: As a member of MOAA under age TRICARE and MOAA’s 65, you and your family cannot be ® MEDIPLUS TRICARE Supplement. turned down. No physicals or health questions. All new injuries and illnesses When you team TRICARE with are covered right away (while there is a MOAA MEDIPLUS, you may save six-month wait for any current health money and get better coverage. Here’s conditions). how: Puts the buying power of 360,000 members to work for you With MEDIPLUS, you can take advantage of low group rates. MEDIPLUS’ rates start as low as $11.85 a month,* which may be lower than your current employee contributions each month. Find out how affordable your rate can be by reviewing the chart on the next page. Gives you freedom to choose your provider Easy to activate coverage MEDIPLUS has no preferred Just complete the attached provider networks, and referrals are not MEDIPLUS Activation Form and needed for your care. You see the return it. TRICARE-authorized doctor you choose. Covered by TRICARE Prime? No cost coverage for your family Will your employer plan help your family if something happens to you? MEDIPLUS will. If you die, your eligible spouse’s MEDIPLUS TRICARE Standard Supplement coverage will continue premium-free until he or she remarries, reaches age 65 or becomes Medicareeligible. Plus, your children can continue their coverage premium-free for 10 years or until they marry or reach age 21 (or age 23 if a full-time student). This benefit is automatic, provided you and your family are covered by MEDIPLUS for at least six months before you die. (This benefit is not Helps pay covered medical bills MEDIPLUS pays your TRICARE cost-share—after you meet any applicable TRICARE or MEDIPLUS deductibles. This means you pay no co-pays for covered doctor visits, hospital and ER trips, outpatient surgery and prescription drugs! If you’re covered by TRICARE Prime, MEDIPLUS pays your co-payments for inpatient care, outpatient care and prescription drugs. In addition, if you decide to get care from a TRICARE-approved doctor without a referral from your Primary Care Manager (commonly referred to as the TRICARE Point of Service Option), MEDIPLUS TRICARE Prime protection will cover your cost-shares for inpatient and outpatient care after you meet the TRICARE Point of Service deductible. Plus, MEDIPLUS will pay 100% of the difference between what the provider bills you and the TRICARE-allowed amount for those expenses. MOAA FACT: Nearly 1 out of 2 MOAA members under age 65 have chosen TRICARE and MEDIPLUS for their coverage. Isn’t it time you did the same? Pays 100% of “excess charges” Many health plans leave you paying out of pocket if your doctor charges more than allowed by the plan. Sometimes doctors won’t accept the TRICARE allowed amount as payment in full. Send no money now! (Continued on next page) Source for statistics on employer health care: 2007 Towers Perrin Health Care Cost Survey, www.towersperrin.com, Viewed 6/18/07. * For the MEDIPLUS In and Outpatient Plan, member under age 45, nonsmoker rate for a $300 deductible.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - August 2007

Military Officer - August 2007 Contents From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: No Longer in Reserve A Different Path Weird Science Charge? Pages of History Faces of MOAA Member Books Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Calendar MOAA Scholarship Donors Sounding Taps MOAA Member Services Encore

Military Officer - August 2007

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