Martin's Point One of Six Facilities in U.S. to Provide Health Care Benefits for Families of Activated Reservists

Policy change ensures continuity of care

PORTLAND, Maine - Martin's Point will be among six US Family Health Plan facilities across the country that will honor the most recent revision to the TRICARE benefit to the families of National Guardsman and reservists.

The revised policy provides eligibility for family members of National Guard and reservists who have been ordered to active duty for more than 30 days. The previous requirement was for 179 days. The change will ensure a consistent and improved benefit for Reserve Component members and their families, officials said.

"The US Family Health Plan that we administer here at Martin's Point Health Care is honored to provide healthcare to the families of reservists who have been ordered to active duty," said David Howes, president of Martin's Point Health Care. "We are happy to be able to provide this benefit and support these families by assuring they receive quality health care without interruption during their loved ones absence."

Under the previous policy, family members of Reserve Component personnel recalled for less than 179 days may not have qualified for health care coverage because employers were not required to continue coverage of the reservists and their family members when they were activated.

With this most recent policy enactment, family members have easy and immediate access to military health care. Because the US Family Health Plan is one of the TRICARE Prime choices available to military health care beneficiaries, family members of activated Reserve Component personnel who live within one of the six program service areas nationwide, such as the area covered by Martin's Point, also are eligible to become members of this comprehensive health care plan.

In addition to having clinics in Portland, Windham and Brunswick, Maine and in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Martin's Point is contracted with the U.S. Department of Defense to provide the US Family Health Plan, a TRICARE Prime benefit, to military beneficiaries throughout Maine and southern New Hampshire. To serve the current 19,200 members of the US Family Health Plan, Martin's Point has developed an extensive network of providers that includes hospitals, doctors, specialists and pharmacies throughout the two states.

Headquartered in Portland at 331 Veranda St., Martin's Point serves more than 50,000 patients in the areas of family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, radiology, cardiology and mammography, as well as other fields. Established in 1981, Martin's Point accepts patients covered by most health plans and the US Family Health Plan. The organization also has an extensive health education center. For additional information on Martin's Point, visit online at www.martinspoint.org.

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