TRICARE: Staying up to date when you PCS

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

02.11.2011

Story by Cpl. Salvador Moreno 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Service members often move from duty station to duty station every few years. They update their address, phone number and vehicle registration, but what they often forget to update is their healthcare, and it can cause problems, said John Sylvera, a Tricare operations health benefits advisor at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton.

Tricare is the healthcare available to service members and dependants worldwide. Tricare, however, doesn’t automatically update when you execute permanent change of station orders. It must be done by the service member.

A service member must complete a primary care manager change at their new duty station to make sure they are medically covered for that location. A PCM change determines who will be the service member’s primary doctor. A service member is disenrolled from their old PCM when they enroll with their new provider.

According to Katherine Winter, head of Tricare operations at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Calif., it’s important to stay in Tricare en route to your new station to ensure you’re covered in case of an emergency. Once you arrive, complete a PCM change. She said to not disenroll from Tricare before a PCS. Disenrolling from Tricare could leave a service member without coverage during the move.

“While you PCS, the command you left is still in charge of your care,” said Sylvera.

He recommends updating Tricare information within 30 days of arrival to ensure continued coverage.

One way to update Tricare information is by going to the local Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System on base.

Another important thing to keep in mind is coverage isn’t guaranteed unless you’re seen by your PCM or were referred by your PCM. It’s the number one problem Sylvera said comes across his desk: service members see whoever they want thinking the bill will be paid, and that’s not the case. All outside-the-network coverage must be approved by Tricare prior to receiving care. In case of emergency medical care, patients must notify and follow up with their PCM. Service members receiving care without prior approval may be billed for the services.

Keeping DEERS information up to date will mitigate confusion when it comes time to locate the sponsor for unpaid medical bills. If information is incorrect in DEERS, medical bills could go to a collection agency and reflect on that person’s credit report, Sylvera said.

In some cases it’s possible to go back and fix, but that may not always be the case. According to Sylvera, it’s up to the collection agency to decide if they want to waive any late fees or interest accrued.

Sylvera said to call him if in doubt about whether or not your information is current.

“I would much rather look you up to see if your enrollments are right than help you fix bills later,” Sylvera said.

For more information on how to update information, where to take unpaid medical bills or if you’re expecting orders to Camp Pendleton, contact John Sylvera at [phone] or DEERS at 1-800-538-9552.

• Date Taken: 02.11.2011
• Date Posted: 02.11.2011 12:59
• Story ID: 65250
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US