The “Yellow Card” Program Published Sept. 18, 2007 92nd Medical Group FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The "Yellow Card" program is one of the ways that the 92d Medical Group maximizes its beneficiaries' healthcare benefits. The program bills other health insurance, or OHI, companies for medical care delivered by the military health system, without impacting policy holders' premiums. The money collected is used to sustain and enhance medical care delivered at Fairchild. The "Yellow Card" program is a true win-win. The "Yellow Card" is an integral part of the medical group's Third Party Collections program. TPC was developed by the Department of Defense in response to public law 99-272. This law requires all military healthcare facilities to collect the cost of medical services provided to non-active duty personnel treated in DoD medical treatment facilities from third party health insurance carriers. To support this program, all non-active duty beneficiaries are asked to complete the DD Form 2569, Third Party Collection Program - Record of Other Health Insurance. Once the form has been completed, beneficiaries are given a "Yellow Card" to keep in their wallet. The "Yellow Card" saves time by eliminating the need to complete an insurance form at each visit. Once given this card, the beneficiary presents it at the time of check-in. During check-in, beneficiaries may be asked if any information has changed since the card was issued, and if so, completion of a new form may be required to update the information. Otherwise the form is good for one year. This program benefits both the beneficiary and the 92d Medical Group. Whenever a beneficiary's health insurance is billed, the medical group automatically assumes responsibility for paying any deductible associated with the claim against the insurance. As a result, the next time the insurance is used in the civilian community, a portion, if not all, of the deductible has already been met. If the full cost of care is not collected from the insurance company, the beneficiary will not be billed for the difference. Whatever the insurance company pays is considered "payment in full". The medical group is prohibited by law, from billing beneficiaries for any co-pays, deductibles, or care that the OHI does not cover. This program will not affect a beneficiary's health insurance premiums. Health insurance premiums, unlike car insurance premiums, do not go up as a result of use. The cost of health insurance premiums are actually determined by a number of other factors such as age, sex, health, geographical area, etc. All funds collected by the medical group go right back into providing care for beneficiaries here at Fairchild. The money collected is used to purchase medical equipment and supplies, as well as supporting renovation, continuing medical education, and/or augmenting staffing. "Yellow Cards" are issued in the OHI office located in Room 121 next to the Fairchild Clinic Pharmacy, main lobby. If you have any questions about this program please feel free to contact the Fairchild OHI program coordinator at (509) 247-3850.
