All, I have recently retired and my new employer offers Blue Cross Blue Shield with an Health Savings Account (BCBS HSA). I have found very little info on Tricare vs putting money into an HSA and it would seem that Tricare, as a second payer, would pick up a real bad situation that has heavy financial costs, with its catastrophic cap... Any input/thoughts on putting money into an HSA when Tricare is available as a second payer? AND, is an HSA legal (I have found on some policies: 4) Tricare does not currently offer an HSA qualified high deductible health plan. Therefore, if you are on Tricare, you cannot have an HSA. Once Tricare offers an HSA qualified high deductible health plan, and you select it, you can have an HSA)?
Medicare does not allow you to participate in an HSA. Tri-care become secondary in your have employer provided health care.
Are you covered by other health insurance (OHI) -- maybe through your husband or wife, maybe through a job, or under medical coverage for accidental injuries under your automobile insurance policy? If so, you or your provider must file a claim for your health care with the insurance plan before filing with TRICARE Standard. After your OHI has decided what it’s going to pay, a claim may be filed with TRICARE Standard. A copy of the other health plan’s payment determination, and a copy of the bill, must be sent along with your TRICARE Standard claim.
Good luck with getting the correct paperwork on your own to file with Tricare. I had to do this when my wife had insurance at her old job.
While Dave_M has good advice it is not very smooth in my experience. I always tried to get the medical office to bill Tricare for what was not covered by Primary Insurance. You have to meet the Tricare deductable before they start paying. Some would do it, others would not, but very few ever sent the proper paperwork so I could forward it to Tricare.
I always felt that the medical office should be required to bill all your insurance companies before billing the patients.
