TRICARE Prime beneficiaries referred more than 100 miles from their primary care manager for specialty care may be eligible to have their actual travel expenses reimbursed by TRICARE.

Under provisions of the 2001 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), travel reimbursement is retroactive to Oct. 30, 2000, for Prime enrollees who are referred more than 100 miles from their primary care manager's office for medically necessary specialty care.

To qualify for reimbursement, beneficiaries must have travel orders for past referred specialty care prepared by a TRICARE representative at the military treatment facility (MTF) where enrolled, or from a regional lead agent representative, if their primary care manager (PCM) is a civilian provider.

The MTF or regional lead agent representative is responsible for ensuring that a valid referral exists before issuing travel orders. To file a travel reimbursement claim, beneficiaries should submit the appropriate original receipt(s) (keeping copies for themselves), a completed reimbursement form, and the original copy of their orders issued by the MTF or lead agent.  Beneficiaries may receive reimbursement after completing and submitting these items.

The new Prime enrollee travel entitlement does not apply to travel expenses incurred by active duty uniformed services members, active duty family members residing with their sponsors overseas, or to travel costs of beneficiaries referred under DoD specialized treatment programs, which are reimbursed by other travel entitlements; nor does it apply to transportation expenses resulting from emergency care covered under the basic TRICARE Standard benefit.

TRICARE Prime beneficiaries seeking reimbursement for travel expenses incurred for obtaining referred specialty care may contact their local MTF or lead agent beneficiary counseling and assistance coordinator (BCAC) for assistance.  Telephone numbers and addresses for BCACs are available on the TRICARE Web site at http://www.tricare.osd.mil/tricare/beneficiary/BCACDirectory.htm

The 2002 NDAA, signed into law by President Bush on Dec. 28, 2001, authorizes travel orders and reimbursement for one non-medical attendant, under certain conditions. TRICARE Prime enrollees who travel with a non-medical attendant should save travel and lodging receipts for themselves and the non-medical attendant. The new non-medical attendant travel benefit will be implemented in the next several weeks and will be retroactive to Dec. 28, 2001. Specific details of the non-medical attendant travel benefit will be available soon at http://www.tricare.osd.mil