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Show HILLTOP TIMES TIMES January 15, 2009 Tricare covers Reserve component family vider directory at www.triwest.com. Families may be able to see a doctor at a military treatment facility when space is available. Sponsors who are eligible for or enrolled in a Federal Employees Health Benefits plan are not eligible for TRS coverage. More information about the TRS plan and eligibility is at TriWest's Guard and Reserve Resource Center (www.triwest.com/ngr). Editofs note: As of the beginning of 2009, the monthly premiums for Tricare Reserve Select decreased dramatically, between 30 and 40 percent BY BRIAN R SMITH TriWest Healthcare Alliance T ricare provides healthcare coverage for families of a drilling Reserve Component sponsor before, during and after active duty. During activation and deployments, the family may use Tricare Prime, Prime Remote or Standard and Extra. When National Guard or Reserve sponsors are not on active duty, they may be eligible to purchase and enroll in Tricare Reserve Select. Tricare Reserve Select TRS includes medical and behavioral health coverage and access to Tricare pharmacy benefits. TRS allows enrollees to choose any Tricare-authorized or network provider for health care. TriWest Healthcare Alliance, the Department of Defense contractor that administers Tricare in 21 western states, offers a pro- Costs As part of the TRS enrollment, a premium payment is due to TriWest each month - $47.51 for individual coverage and $180.17 for family coverage. The amount of the annual deductible is based on the sponsor's rank. Once the annual deductible is met, the patient will pay cost-shares. Cost-shares are a percentage of the Tricare-allowed amount for covered services. A Tricare network provider will have lower cost-shares than a nonnetwork provider. TRS includes a $1,000 maximum out-of-pocket cap (the most your family will pay including the deductible and cost-shares, but not monthly pre- DIALING From page 1 a breaking point and must be supplemented with additional numbers. Some major cities with the same problem have taken their region and "split* into two separate regions with different area codes. This can be costly to businesses because it requires phone number changes, the replacement of signs, business cards, and other associated advertising media in the region where the area code had existed for years. Another option, called an overlay, leaves the existing 801 area code and adds the new area code to the same region. In miums) for Tricare-covered services each fiscal year, Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. Tricare cost information can be found at www.tricare.mil/costs. Becoming eligible The sponsor's unit or service certifies Tricare eligibility. Family members must be entered into the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System before they are eligible for any Tricare benefits. Keep the family's DEERS records up to date to help minimize issues with eligibility or claims. Visit www.tricare.mil/deers to learn how and where to update the DEERS record. Qualify and enroll The TRS enrollment process begins at the National Guard and Reserve Web Portal (httpsi/Avww.dmdc. osd.mil/appj/trs/indexjsp). Fill out the application online and print a copy. Sign the completed form and send (mail to TriWest Healthcare Alliance, P.O. Box 42048, Phoenix, AZ 850802048 or fax it to (866) 441-8843) with the first month's premium payment to TriWest. TRS coverage can be purchased at any time. this way, only newly created numbers will have the new 385 area code and no 801 numbers will need to change. The downside to this option is the need to dial additional digits to reach someone new who may live down the street. The Utah Public Service Commission selected the overlay option and it will take effect on March 29. All calls within Davis, Morgan, Salt Lake, Weber and Utah counties will be affected. After this date, calls will only be connected after dialing all 10 digits (XXX-XXXXXXX) of any number. Hill AFB will also be making changes to multiple systems to meet this requirement and base users will change the way business is conducted by telephone. Varicose Veins.. Afraid of Surgery! Applications for the Scholarships for Military Children Program must be submitted to the Defense Commissary Agency by close of business Feb. 18. Applications are available at the Commissary or online at httpy/www.commissaries. com and directly at http^/www.militaryscholar. ' org, where they can be completed on the computer and printed, or printed and filled out by hand For those submitting applications by mail, be \ sure to attach a return receipt. Applicants can be unmarried children, under the age of 23, of active-duty, Reserve, Guard and retired military members; survivors of service members who died while on active duty; or survivors of individuals who died while receiving military retired pay. Applicants must be planning to attend, or already be attending, an accredited college or university full time in the fall of 2009, or be enrolled in a program of studies designed to transfer directly into a four-year program. Eligibility is determined using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System database. Applicants should ensure that they, as well as their sponsor, are enrolled in the DEERS database and have a current ID card. Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization best known for building comfort homes near military medical facilities, administers the Scholarships for Military Children program through Scholarship Managers, a professional firm that screens applicants and awards scholarships. Neither Fisher House nor DeCA are involved in the decision process. At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary location with qualified applicants. There is pending state legislation that may change the overlay option, but in the meantime the base and all onbase public utilities are pressing ahead. Technicians will begin making changes to the switch on Jan. 19 and the final cutover will occur on Jan. 25. Beginning Jan. 25, base personnel will be required to dial additional digits for their calls in order to be connected for both on-base and local calls. On Jan. 25 customers can expect the following changes: • For local calls from base to the surrounding area; users must dial 99 + all 10 digits (99 + area code + XXX-XXXX). • For calls from one base number to another base number; users must dial seven digits (777-XXXX. 775-XXXX or 586-XXXX). This is to meet require- ments as spelled out in AFI33-111. • Cell phone users must update their, address books to ensure all stored numbers include the full 10-digit number with area code. • Customers with multi-line phones, facsimile machines or any device that have user-enabled automatic dial features must verify the programming of these features to ensure the full 7 or 10 digit number is programmed. • During the cutover, intermittent problems during the transition period (Jan: 19-Jan. 25), may force some users to dial all seven digits if the call doesn't go through with five digit dialing. • Customers can contact the Telephone Help Desk at Ext. 119 for any issues that cannot be mitigated. B!G SKI & SNOWBOARD », CHRISTMAS SALE there's a minimally Invasive procedure for the treatment of large varicose veins. SKI & SPORTS • Multiple non-surgical treatments available • Clinically effective with documented ^ three year follow-up 1776 N Hillf ield Rd. 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