Tricare Prime fees jump 17% today for some

Tricare Prime fees jump 17% today for some
Army Times
By Patricia Kime
Staff writer
Posted : Monday Oct 1, 2012

Military retirees enrolled in Tricare Prime will see a dip in their net retirement pay starting today: Annual fees for the health benefit increased as of Oct. 1.

The fees rise by 3.6 percent for some retired military members and their families and by 17 percent for most.

Military retirees who enrolled in the system on or after Oct. 1, 2011, and all new beneficiaries will pay $269.28 a year for an individual, up from $260, and $538.56 for a family, up from $520.

Those who were in Prime before Oct. 1, 2011, will see their annual fees increase from to $269.28 from $230 for individuals and to $538.56 from $460 for families.

Affected retirees and family members received notification of the increase by mail in August.

The fee increases are within limits set by Congress last year. Legislation passed in 2011 restricted the amount the Pentagon can increase annual fees to the annual military cost-of-living adjustment. The 3.6 percent increase is equal to the most recent cost-of-living adjustment in military retired pay for 2012.
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