IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             Contact:        Brian Baluta, 202-225-6155

October 23, 2012                                                           

RENO, Nev. -- Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-2) this week expressed his concerns to the Department of Defense (DoD) about its reported decision to discontinue TRICARE Prime health coverage for military retirees and their families throughout much of rural Nevada. 

As reported by Military Times, the proposal would affect communities in Nevada, as well as Oregon, Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri. Starting April 1, 2013, TRICARE Prime Service would only be offered to retirees and their families living within 40 miles of a Military Treatment Facility (MTF). In Northern Nevada's case, the MTF is at Fallon Naval Air Station. 

"I am very concerned about reports that the incoming contractor for the TRICARE West Region does not plan to continue the current TRICARE Prime Service to communities in Northern Nevada that are currently being serviced by the present contractor," said Amodei in a letter to Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense. "In a state consisting of 110,000 square miles and one of the highest concentrations of veterans per capita, this change would eliminate the Prime option for thousands of TRICARE beneficiaries in Nevada who rely on it for medical care."

 The Pentagon has yet to make an official announcement, but a source told Military Times last week that Pentagon officials have discussed delaying a formal announcement until after the November 6 election. Beneficiaries who lose Tricare Prime won’t be without health care; they qualify for Tricare Standard, traditional fee-for-service coverage that has no enrollment fees but carries greater out-of-pocket costs.

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