TRICARE is an incredible benefit for members of the armed services and retirees, and a couple of its versions work exceptionally well with a Balanced Physician Care membership. The ability to get lab and imaging tests as well as some specialty care directly from the base means you can get the best of both worlds.

TRICARE SELECT

TRICARE Select (formerly TRICARE Standard) is a version that has small enrollment fee (like a premium) of $12.50 per month ($250 annually) individual and $25 per month ($300 annually) for a family

 enrollment fee is waived if you’re:

• An active duty family member
• A medically retired retiree or family member
• A survivor of an active duty sponsor or medically retired retiree

A 20% cost-sharing (also known as co-insurance) for charges incurred outside of the “direct” system.  Direct means you’re getting care, tests, or prescriptions directly from the military clinic. Pairing your Select plan with a direct primary care membership means you get fantastic, easy-to-access primary care for an affordable cost. No worries about getting in to be seen the day you call, and you’ll see your doctor when you do. Labs, imaging tests, and prescriptions can still be done at the base at no cost.  If you need care that neither the membership nor the military clinic can provide, we work to make sure you know what something is going to cost before you go. 

TRICARE FOR LIFE

TRICARE for Life is essentially second-payer coverage for Medicare for people 65+ or otherwise eligible for Medicare. It also works great with a Balanced Physician Care membership for the same reasons is works for TRICARE Select — affordable access to your doctor when you need it AND the ability to get tests and prescriptions from the base. We appreciate your service.  

TRICARE PRIME

Unfortunately, Prime doesn’t work quite so well with a Balanced Physician Care membership.  Prime functions like a “health maintenance organization” (whatever that is), which limits Balanced Physician Care’s ability to do referrals. It’s still an option, but you’d basically just have to operate outside the system.  

The bottom line is that TRICARE Select and TRICARE for Life work great with a Balanced Physician Care membership — the relationship, access, and value we provide in our clinic combined with the ability to still get tests, medications, and specialty care at the base at no additional cost!  

To learn more about the membership options at Balanced Physician Care.  Visit our membership page