<p>Hi! My last child and beloved daughter will be a member of the class of 2012.</p>
<p>She now costs me a fortune (not really) in TRICARE Prime (TP) and TRICARE/Delta Dental insurance. Her in-processing instructions say to stay enrolled in her parent’s insurance the first year while she’s enrolled in TRICARE Prime. </p>
<p>Having spent twenty years on active duty I know things don’t have to make sense, but do any parents of upperclassmen know if TP can really get paid twice for one patient? Does this mean TP is secondary payer to itself?</p>
<p>I imagine she can’t refuse her med benefits and put the extra money into a employer savings plan or IRA. Seriously, anyone know what military brats usually do about Dad’s TRICARE while at the AFA?</p>
<p>You can't collect on both. Since she is Active Duty while at the Academy - that coverage is her primary coverage.</p>
<p>The only reason the academies tell parents to keep the kids on insurance is to make coverage seamless if the cadet separates.
There used to be pre-existing clauses etc that federal laws have pretty much taken care of - at least with group plans.
For you - think about what would happen if she were to separate. There is no COBRA coverage for cadets who separate so they will need medical insurance.
If she separates and can be picked up again as a dependent on your Tricare then there is no reason to keep her on it - IMO. You would in fact, be paying for coverage you can never use.
With most parents group insurance plan -as long as their children over age 19 are enrolled in school they may receive coverage - if your cadet separates you will most likely need to see that she gets enrolled in school.</p>