The military is making a great to-do about the new and improved Tricare benefits for Reservists, particularly those who have faced long deployments already.  But it pays, as always to read the fine print.  (If you are in the Army, you have probably already learned this the hard way.)

The Army will now allow reservists to buy 1 year of Tricare standard coverage for themselves and their families for every 90 days of consecutive active duty service.  This sounds like a great plan:  consistent health care for those affected by mobilizations, especially since we keep hearing about a lack of affordable heath insurance in this country.  It sounded like a great idea when it was presented to Steve as a Veteran's Benefit, since we are self-employed.  The catch? 

For every 90 days of consecutive active duty service, the member and family member may purchase one year of Tricare standard coverage for the same period they commit to serve in the selected reserves.

That's right folks.  Instead of getting that nice little reenlistment bonus, you can pay them to keep on serving.  And it is only for Tricare standard.  Personally, having been in a position to price and compare private healthcare plans, it isn't much of a bargain.  If this is how the government wants to thank our family for its service, no thanks.

The full news release can be found here.  For premium costs and other information on the Continued Health Benfit coverage, try this link.

Oh, and one more tidbit of interest to those of you who, like us, are nowhere near a military treatment facility:  during the free period of transitional coverage after your mobilization period is up Tricare Prime Remote is NOT available.  I suppose we should be grateful for any coverage at all, but it seems to me that a program which is designed to help Reservists might actually provide some benefits that make sense.