Summer is a great time to take care of your children’s health checkups. Your child’s school likely requires students to have an annual health exam and be up-to-date on vaccines. With the new school year just around the corner, don’t delay your children’s medical appointments.
“Most schools have mandatory health standards that children must meet each school year,” said Jeannine Pickrell, RN, nurse consultant for disease management and population health at the Defense Health Agency. “It helps to get the required school health checks done before the last minute. Summer vacation is also a perfect time to get other health care services for your children, such as dental and eye exams.”
Whether your child needs gym at school or you want to check their growth, TRICARE has a lot covered preventive health services at no cost to your family. Here is important information about school visits for your children.
Follow school health care requirements
Contact your child’s school for their health policy. Depending on these requirements, you may need to schedule more than one office visit for your child.
For younger children, TRICARE covers exams for good kids from birth to 6 years of age. Starting at age 6, TRICARE covers of course required for school enrollment. TRICARE does not cover annual athletic physicals, which are separate from school physicals.
Even if your child’s school doesn’t require physical activity, kids can get screenings. Annual Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HP&DP) Examinations. are available to anyone enrolled in TRICARE over the age of 6.
TRICARE also covers routine vaccinations, also known as vaccines. Your provider will review your child’s immunization records to confirm that your child is current and meeting school requirements. You can get covered vaccines from any TRICARE-authorized provider at no cost. However, you may have to pay copayments or cost-shares for other services you received during the same office visit. You can also get some covered vaccines at no cost TRICARE Retail Pharmacy Network. At retail chain pharmacies, make sure a pharmacist administers the shots to avoid potential out-of-pocket costs.
Take additional wellness exams
There is more to your child’s well-being than the average physicist can detect. Use this extra time to check all aspects of their health.
For example, you can schedule an appointment with your child’s dentist. The TRICARE health plan does not include dental coverage. However, active duty family members and family members of the National Guard and Reserves may purchase dental coverage through the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP). The TDP covers two routine dental cleanings in a consecutive 12-month period for children aged 1 year and older, as described in TRICARE Dental Program Handbook. You can join TDP at any time.
Your child may also be able to have a routine eye exam. This depends on the beneficiary’s condition, health plan and their age. They can take children of active service members annual eye exams. Children of retirees with TRICARE Prime can receive a routine eye exams every two years.
Some children are also eligible for dental or vision coverage through it Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). If your child has FEDVIP coverage, be sure to follow the rules of this program.
Find a provider
Need to find a new doctor or dentist for your children? of TRICARE Find a doctor tool can help you find nearby providers. If you have TDP you can use it Find a Dentist tool to search for local TDP network dentists.
When you visit the provider, be sure to bring up any concerns about your children’s health. By taking time this summer to focus on your children’s health, you can help them get off to a good start in the school year.
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