Frequently Asked Questions

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FAQ

Is TRICARE subject to the minimum 3-year timely filing period, established in section 6035 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA), for states that regulate health insurers?

No.  Based upon federal authority set forth at 10 U.S.C. section 1103, Congress explicitly provided for preemption of state and local laws pertaining to health care financing methods for a contract entered into for medical and/or dental care, under Chapter 55 of the Armed Forces Title of the U.S. Code, by the Secretary of Defense or administering Department of Defense secretaries.  The preemption applies to contracts entered into for the purpose of administering TRICARE.   Thus, it is the position of the Department of Defense that TRICARE’s 1-year timely filing limit is not superseded by the 3-year limit established in the DRA for health insurers who are regulated by the states, and that  TRICARE is exempt, not only from the DRA timely filing requirements, but from the DRA requirements altogether.  


(FAQ10566)

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