Is TRICARE Reserve Select Primary or Secondary?
Asked by: Prof. Kiera Wunsch I | Last update: December 18, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (66 votes)
How do I know if my TRICARE is primary or secondary?
If you lose other health insurance, TRICARE becomes your primary payer. If you have TRICARE for Life, TRICARE becomes the second payer after Medicare. You must inform your doctor and contractor by completing and returning this form. Failure to tell your doctor or contractor may result in TRICARE denying your claims.
What type of plan is TRICARE Reserve Select?
TRICARE Reserve Select is a premium-based health plan for Selected Reserve members (and their families) who qualify.
What determines primary vs. secondary health insurance?
To determine which plan is primary, which means the insurer pays for covered services first according to the benefits provided by the plan. The other insurer pays secondary, which means it pays the remaining unpaid balance according to the benefits provided by its plan.
How do I know if I have TRICARE Select or Prime?
Are you enrolled in a plan but not sure which one? If so, you can find out which plan you're enrolled in: By logging into your account in Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System via milConnect, or. By calling your regional contractor.
Military Healthcare | Tricare Reserve Select | National Guard and Reserve (NEW)
Is TRICARE Select a primary insurance?
TRICARE processes the claim as the primary payer, and you're responsible for paying your deductible, cost-shares, and any amount that exceeds the TRICARE-allowable charge for covered services. Learn more at www.tricare.mil/overseas.
Do spouses get TRICARE Prime or select?
New active duty family members are automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select, depending on their location. If eligible for other plans, these family members have 90 days from the date of your marriage to change their plan. Family members of retirees aren't automatically enrolled in TRICARE.
How do I know if my health insurance is primary?
The insurance that pays first is called the primary payer. The primary payer pays up to the limits of its coverage. The insurance that pays second is called the secondary payer. The secondary payer only pays if there are costs the primary insurer didn't cover.
Can you switch primary and secondary insurance?
Know about switching between primary and secondary insurance: It is possible to change between primary and secondary insurance and for that, an individual who wants to stop the coverage of his/her primary insurance just needs to inform their secondary insurance about it.
What is the process of determining which company is primary and which is secondary?
Coordination of benefits is the process insurance companies use to determine how to cover your medical expenses when you're covered by more than one health insurance plan. It clarifies who pays what by determining which plan is the primary payer and which is secondary.
What is not covered by TRICARE Reserve Select?
TRS provides only health and vision benefits, not dental or pharmacy benefits. TRS also does not cover reservists who are on active-duty orders (or their families), or retirees.
What does "select reserve" mean?
The Selected Reserve is the most readily available group of Army Reserve Soldiers. The Selected Reserve is comprised of Troop Program Units (TPUs), Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) Soldiers and Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMAs). In the event of an emergency, all members of the Selected Reserve can be mobilized.
Is it better to have TRICARE Prime or Select?
If you're on active duty, you have to enroll in TRICARE Prime. All others can choose to enroll in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select. TRICARE Prime offers fewer out-of-pocket costs than TRICARE Select, but less freedom of choice for providers. If you have other health insurance, TRICARE Prime might not be right for you.
What does TRICARE Select fall under?
TRICARE Select is a self-managed, preferred provider organization (PPO) plan available in the U.S. You must show eligible for TRICARE in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System.
Will secondary pay if primary denies?
It depends on which insurance is considered “primary” and which is “secondary.” The insurance that pays first (primary payer) pays up to the limits of its coverage. The insurance that pays second (secondary payer) only pays if there are costs the primary insurance didn't cover.
What are the two primary TRICARE programs?
Available TRICARE plans. There are many different TRICARE plans, but TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select are the two primary options for active-duty service members and their families.
Can a patient have both primary and secondary insurance coverage?
Most individuals only have one health insurance plan, known as “primary” insurance. However, some people also secure additional medical coverage or a “secondary” insurance plan. Having dual coverage is perfectly legal.
Is it worth having primary and secondary health insurance?
There are some situations where having two health insurance plans can help you reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. For example, if you have two health insurance plans that cover different areas of your medical needs, then one policy may cover one area while another policy covers the other area.
How to determine primary and secondary insurance for a child?
The health insurance plan of the parent whose birthday month and day occurs earlier in the calendar year is primary. The health insurance plan of the parent whose birthday month and day occurs later in the calendar year is secondary.
Which insurance is always primary?
As outlined above, an individual's employer-sponsored plan will always be primary. Even if a spouse or parent's plan has better coverage or maybe a lower deductible, you can't submit claims to them first.
What determines which parents insurance is primary?
The birthday rule applies when a child is covered under both parents' health plans. Primary coverage comes from the plan of the parent whose birthday (month and day only) comes first in the year, with the other parent's health plan providing secondary coverage.
How do I change my primary and secondary health insurance?
To switch from primary to secondary insurance, contact your insurance providers and inform them of your decision. You may need to go through a specific enrollment period or provide documentation to verify your eligibility.
Can I keep TRICARE for life if I remarry?
If a surviving spouse remarries, their TRICARE benefit is gone forever, unless they marry another military retiree.
How to add spouse to TRICARE reserve select?
Under the Family Members list, click Start Plan Change. On the Enroll in TRICARE - Select Enrolling Family Members page (Step 1 of 5), select one (1) or more family members to enroll in TRICARE medical benefits. Click Continue. Select a reason for the plan change.
Does TRICARE cover IVF?
TRICARE doesn't cover ART services. This includes IUI, IVF, cryopreservation, etc.