TRICARE and CHAMPVA are health benefit programs for the military community. These programs help eligible members with medical expenses such as hospital stays, doctor visits, emergency care, prescription medications, ambulance, medical equipment, mental health care, etc.

TRICARE is for Active Duty military personnel as well as eligible retired military and reserve members. Spouses and children are also eligible for TRICARE.

TRICARE is available overseas. Military retirees who reside overseas have TRICARE Select. Active Duty personnel have access to TRICARE Select and TRICARE Prime.

CHAMPVA stands for Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is similar to TRICARE, but it is specifically for spouses and children of disabled veterans.

TRICARE Prime/POS comes together in one package. There is an annual fee, and members must request to be enrolled in this option. The in-network cost shares are lower than TRICARE Select/Extra.

TRICARE Prime is similar to an HMO plan. Members must use providers from the network. All care must be coordinated through a Primary Care Manager. Referrals are required to see a specialist.

TRICARE POS is the out-of-network option for TRICARE Prime. Members have the option to go out of network or to see a provider without referral from the Primary Care Manager (higher deductibles and cost shares will apply).

TRS is for qualified National Guard and Reserve members. Insureds have the freedom to seek care from any provider. There are no network restrictions.

As such, the member is susceptible to excess charges.

The TRS sponsor is required to enroll in the supplement with the family. 

This is the only plan that requires the sponsor to be enrolled.