Tricare for Reserve Component soldiers.

The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the start of health care coverage under TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) for eligible Reserve Component (RC) service members and their family members.

TRS coverage is available to RC members who were called or ordered to active duty under Title 10 in support of a contingency operation on or after September 11, 2001. The RC member and his RC unit must agree the member will remain in TRICARE Reserve Select for one or more whole years to be eligible.

TRS coverage must be purchased. TRS members pay a monthly premium for health care coverage. The monthly premiums for calendar year 2005 are $75 for TRS member-only coverage and $233 for TRS member and family coverage.

TRS offers comprehensive health care coverage similar to TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra. TRS members can make an appointment with any TRICARE authorized provider or hospital (TRICARE network or non-network) or at a military treatment facility (MTF) on a space-available basis.

Pharmacy coverage is available from an MTF pharmacy, TRICARE mail order pharmacy (TMOP) and TRICARE network and non-network retail pharmacies.

Services include routine, urgent and emergency care, family health care, maternity services, clinical preventive services, behavioral health care, annual eye exams, ancillary services such as laboratory and radiology, durable medical equipment and supplies, and prescription drug coverage.

A TRS handbook, list of service contacts to verify eligibility and contacts for TRICARE regional contractors for TRS benefits are all available on the TRICARE website: www.tricare.osd.mil/reserve/reserveselect.