Army National Guard Health Benefits
The days are gone when health benefits in the United States Military were reserved for only active duty soldiers. In 2005, the Army National Guard adopted health benefits available for its soldiers. Many members of the Army National Guard hold other full-time employment and will continue to be eligible to carry private insurance.
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Purpose
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The purpose of the plan to provide healthcare benefits to the Army National Guard is to ensure that soldiers will not suffer a lapse in healthcare coverage. The plan, called Tricare Reserve Select, was initially introduced as a way to keep those National Guard members who are entering or leaving active duty covered due to the fact they most often lose coverage from their civilian employer during the transitions.
Coverage and Premiums
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The premiums you will pay as a soldier serving in the Army National Guard will vary based on the coverage you select. The lowest cost form of insurance offered in the plan will require the participant to seek healthcare at a pre-approved provider. Depending on the coverage you are seeking you may qualify for up to a 5 percent discount for using pre-approved or network healthcare providers. The benefits do cover any type of dental care.
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Eligibility
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All soldiers in the Army National Guard will become eligible after 30 days or more of active duty at the latest. Many will become eligible even earlier; up to 90 days prior to deployment depending on their current health coverage status and the time period in which they will be deployed. Other members become eligible when their full-time employer does not offer health coverage or the soldier is self-employed. The goal of the Army is to ensure that all soldiers maintain health coverage.
Continued Eligibility
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Coverage will remain in effect long after a period of active duty service. For each 90-day period served on active duty a soldier in the Army National Guard will continue to be eligible for healthcare coverage for one year through Tricare. For those soldiers who complete a two-year deployment this means they will have continued health care coverage for a period of eight years after they return.
Dependents
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Dependents, including a spouse, are also eligible under the same circumstances as you. Dependents will remain eligible for coverage three years in the event that the qualifying soldier dies while on active duty. Children under the age of 21 are considered dependent and are therefore eligible for coverage. Children may also be covered up until the age of 23 if they remain in school full-time. The sponsor, or parent in the Army National Guard, has to remain qualified for coverage for the dependents to be eligible for coverage.
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