TRICARE Coverage Limitations:
TRICARE may not cover certain medical treatments, leaving families with significant out-of-pocket expenses. In such cases, alternative financial assistance options can help alleviate the burden.
Army Emergency Relief (AER) Grants:
AER provides grants for medical treatments not covered by TRICARE. To apply, follow these steps:
1. Visit the closest AER office
2. Bring the required documents:
○ End of month LES
○ Prescription from doctor’s office stating the need and type of treatment
○ Document from doctor’s office or clinic with estimated cost of treatment (total cost, not just for the treatment itself)
○ Bank statement for the fund disbursement account (account and routing number)
Alternative Application Process:
If you are deployed and unable to apply in person, call the Red Cross at 1-877-272-7337 and state that you have an AER assistance request. They will assist with the application process. Note that dependents cannot apply on behalf of the service member.