TRICARE ONE YEAR LIMIT UPDATE: Tricare Management Activity (TMA) has extended a “timely filing waiver” through 31 DEC 08 for Tricare Overseas claims.
2008-Dec-18 at 12:01 by Veterans Law Project
Tricare officials remind overseas providers and beneficiaries that they have limited time left to file claims that have not already been processed. Tricare Management Activity (TMA) has extended a “timely filing waiver” through 31 DEC 08 for Tricare Overseas claims. The extension accommodates providers, beneficiaries and others living overseas who have not filed claims within one year of the “date of service.”
One year is the limit normally allowed by Tricare policy. However, according to Tricare officials, late filing overseas sometimes occurs due to local statutes, which often give healthcare professionals up to three years to file claims for reimbursement. The filing extension through 31 DEC 08 allows extra time for Tricare area offices overseas to educate providers, beneficiaries and others about Tricare’s claims filing policies. To be eligible for this limited timely filing waiver, overseas Tricare service centers, military treatment facilities, remote points of contact, providers and beneficiaries who have outstanding healthcare bills with dates of service before 31 DEC 07 must submit their claims no later than 31 DEC 08 to Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS), the overseas claims processor for Tricare.
Beneficiaries can file claims by mailing a completed DD Form 2642 with a copy of the itemized bill and receipts to the appropriate WPS address found on the contact page at http://tricare4u.com. If WPS initially denies a claim filed more than a year from the date of service, the filer can then request the limited timely filing waiver. However, after the 31 DECF 08 deadline, new claims will be denied if not filed within one-year from the date of service.
Contact a local overseas Tricare area office for assistance or WPS overseas at 1-608-301-2310.
Area office contact information is available at the beneficiary portal at http://www.tricare.mil. [Source: Tricare News release 08-117 dtd 28 Nov 08 ++]
