Health Care for Heroes

The TRICARE Premium Reimbursement Program

The Health Care for Heroes Act of 2023 established the TRICARE Premium Reimbursement Program (TPRP) in the Maryland Military Department (MMD) to award grants to reimburse certain members of the Maryland National Guard (MDNG) for the cost of premiums for certain health care and dental care plans. To be eligible for the TPRP, personnel must meet two criteria: the individual must be a member of the MDNG, and that individual must be eligible for TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) insurance coverage. Once enrolled in TPRP and so long as eligibility is maintained, MMD may award grants up to $60 per month to reimburse an individual for actual costs incurred related to the following items:

a. A premium paid for individual coverage through the TRS program.

b. A premium paid for any member of the immediate family of an eligible recipient covered under TRS.

c. A premium paid for individual coverage under the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP), or

d. A premium paid for any member of the immediate family of an eligible recipient receiving dental benefits under the TDP.

Health Care for Heroes PSA

Governor Wes Moore and Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead encourage eligible Soldiers and Airmen of the Maryland National Guard to enroll for reimbursement of their monthly TRICARE Reserve Select and TRICARE Dental Program's premiums through the Health Care for Heroes initiative.

Health Care for Heroes Enrollment and Reimbursement Guide

The Maryland Military Department gives a step-by-step guide to the Health Care for Heroes TRICARE Premium Reimbursement Program Enrollment Application process. (Note: Starting July 1, 2024, the reimbursement cap for TRICARE Reserve Select and TRICARE Dental Plan will/has been raised from $60 to $150)

FAQ

1. Are Service Members employed by the State of MD eligible for the Reimbursements?

A. Yes. If the service member is an active MDNG member and enrolled in Tricare Reserve Select (TRS) or Tricare Dental Program (TDP), they are eligible for reimbursement(s) with proper proof of payment(s).

2. What documents are acceptable for proof of enrollment in Tricare Reserve Select when enrolling?

A. A dated Tricare Reserve Select or Dental Program enrollment letter.

B. An up-to-date Insurance Card

C. An up-to-date account statement showing the name of ownership.

3. Are W-9 Forms required to be submitted w/ signature(s)?

A. No. Only if a change of address is needed to be submitted to the General Accounting Division by the HCfH Program Officer when the address on the W-9 does not match the address in the Financial Management Information System (FMIS), a GAD 710 form, an address verification such as a bill, and a signed W-9 with the address matching the billed address must be submitted to GAD on the behalf of the service member

4. When requesting reimbursement(s), what documents are acceptable for proof of payment?

A. A bank statement showing the service member's name, date, and payment amount (highlighted) made for each month.

B. A credit card statement showing the service member's name, date, and payment amount (highlighted) made for each month.

C. An invoice or statement from TRICARE Reserve Select (Humana Military) or TRICARE Dental Plan (United Concordia) showing the service member's name, date, and payment amount made for each month.

5. Are Tricare Dental Premiums acceptable for reimbursements?

A. All Tricare Dental Premiums are acceptable for reimbursement(s).

6. Can payments in advance be submitted before the month is paid?

A. No, because the system is run on a month-to-month basis. The state can only reimburse premiums in the month they were paid for.

7. Can service members return to the same application to add documents?

A. No. The portal has been set up to avoid duplications so documents cannot be added to a completed Reimbursement application. The service member must start a new application to include an additional document.

8. What are the working numbers to reach the HCfH staff?

A. You can reach Schanell Hurt-Franklin, HCfH Program Manager, during the business hours of 6:30am-5pm, Tuesday-Friday at [email protected]