States can alleviate barriers experienced by military families who lose access to valuable medical benefits as they transition out of the military.
The Department of Defense established the TRICARE ECHO program to provide $36,000 of additional coverage for active-duty sponsored family members with condition-specific needs; however, they lose ECHO support upon separation or retirement from the military. Additionally, when military families transition out of the military, they generally have to start the entire Medicaid application process again in the state in which they settle, resulting in long waiting periods without services. Consequently, families incur significant debt while paying for a family member's care.
Key message
Individual state Medicaid eligibility requirements and lengthy waiting lists hinder military families in obtaining supplemental financial support for family members with special needs during critical transition periods. States can assist military families by facilitating their ability to earn the same priorities afforded to every eligible state resident.
Discussion points
States can assist separating service members and their families by recognizing that mobile military life hinders reasonable participation in state Medicaid options and waiver programs.
States can allow active-duty service members to use their state of legal residence, where they pay taxes, vote, register their vehicles, hold a driver's license, etc., to register special needs family members for Medicaid waivers.
- Enrollment for waivers in their resident state would allow the family members to progress along with other state citizens until they become eligible to receive benefits.
- Eligibility status is retained as long as the service member maintains the state as his or her legal resident and returns to the state after military separation.1 The service member either receives credit for time on the list or begins receiving benefits when he or she returns home.
As an alternative, states may consider modifying one of their existing waiver categories, such as individuals with critical need to include military families transitioning out of the military, to expedite services through Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services.
- This option may also facilitate expediting services to family members with special needs during an assignment who lose services from their previous state because of a government-directed relocation.
1 Joint Federal Travel Regulation Chapter 5, Part A-U5012-I extends the final travel benefits up to six years from effective date of separation.
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