Health Care/Special Needs

Whether this is your first move, or you’re a seasoned professional, moving can be a challenge. A little planning and preparation can help make your move as easy as possible. Try the following Defense Department resources to help you get organized:

• PCS & Military Moves on Military OneSource.mil provides comprehensive moving resources, information and services all in one simple location
• Plan My Move, an online tool that helps break down the moving process into clear, customizable steps, with checklists to help keep you organized and on track
• EFMP & Me, an online tool to help you plan for transition and continuity of support services for your family member(s) with special needs

Make sure your transition is as smooth as possible by visiting Moving on the TRICARE website. Talk to your medical case manager before you move. They can help you find a new doctor and other resources to avoid any interruptions in coverage.

On arrival at your new duty location, you or your sponsor can contact the Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator at the military treatment facility. They can help if you have questions or need assistance with authorizations for TRICARE Extended Care Health Option, or ECHO, services.

All TRICARE regional offices and most military treatment facilities are staffed with beneficiary counseling and assistance coordinators who educate beneficiaries and help with TRICARE-related eligibility, enrollment, referrals/authorizations and claims processing questions. If you or your family has more complex needs, contact your TRICARE case manager.

TRICARE debt collection assistance officers are assigned to regional offices and military treatment facilities worldwide. DCAOs assist with confirmed debt collection due to unpaid TRICARE claims. Please note, the debt must be in collections or listed on your credit report.

Medicaid provides health coverage for eligible individuals and families with low incomes or with special needs. The department of social services or the department of medical assistance may administer the Medicaid program in your state. Supplemental Security Income is a cash assistance program intended to assist adults and children with special needs who have limited resources. Families must reapply after moving to a new state.

Medicaid waivers are state-specific Medicaid programs that provide funding for long-term care services to be provided in the community instead of in nursing homes or hospitals. There may be waitlists for waivers, however many states have agreed to the policy of allowing active-duty military families to enroll in their state of legal residence to get on the wait list.

Learn more about Benefits for Families With Special Needs, or review the Government Assistance Programs course on MilLife Learning.

The TRICARE Extended Care Health Option provides supplemental services to:

• Family members of active-duty service personnel (this includes activated National Guard and reserve service personnel)
• Family members who are covered under the Transitional Assistance Management Program
• Children or spouses of former service members who are victims of abuse and qualify for the Transitional Compensation Program
• Family members of deceased active-duty sponsors while they are considered transitional survivors.

The qualifying family member’s disability must be entered properly in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System to have access to TRICARE ECHO services.

For qualifying medical and/or educational special needs, TRICARE ECHO offers integrated services and supplies beyond those offered by your TRICARE program option (such as TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select). See this TRICARE ECHO factsheet for more information, or listen to this TRICARE ECHO webinar on Military OneSource.

Military hospitals and clinics are found at military bases and posts around the world. They are also referred to as military treatment facilities. Before you move, find out your new military treatment facility and contact them for local information.

Medical case management involves a team of health care professionals who help you and your family find solutions to complex health problems. It is important to let your medical case manager know if you are moving. They can help you connect with a medical case manager at your new location. Learn more about TRICARE case management services.

If your family member has special transportation needs for the move, such as oxygen or a special bed or wheelchair, contact your TRICARE medical case manager. They can advise you on equipment and transportation.

You can also contact your current installation’s household goods/transportation office (outbound) for information on special procedures for transporting medical equipment.

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory enrollment program that works with military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated community support, education, medical, and personnel services to families with special needs. An exceptional Family member is an adult or child with any physical, educational, emotional, developmental, or intellectual disorder that can require special educational and/or medical treatment, therapy, training or counseling.

All military Family members must be screened and enrolled in EFMP, if eligible, when a service member requests command sponsorship or Family member travel is authorized. The screening consists of a medical records review for all family members and development screening for all children 72 months of age or younger.

It is mandatory for all family members of military personnel to receive the EFMP screening prior to their assignment to Brussels, Belgium.

Military personnel must contact the nearest military medical treatment facility to begin the assessment process and obtain the enrollment forms. Once the forms are completed, they are forwarded to the appropriate regional medical command for approval.

Department of the Army Civilian Employees are not required to enroll in the program. However, they must identify children with special education and medically related service needs when they process for an assignment at Brussels, Belgium.

The Army Community Service EFMP Program Manager can be reached by calling DSN 314-597-9930 or 314-597-9931 or COM 011-32-22-80-9930 or 011-32-22-80-9931.

Brussels American School (BAS)

Brussels American School or BAS provides support to mild learning impaired or mild developmentally delayed preschool students with a special education teacher supported by a speech therapist, an itinerant school psychologist, a clinical psychologist, a speech therapist, occupational therapist, and an early intervention specialist. Individuals considering assignment to Brussels should consult the EFMP Resource Directory with the local EFMP Manager to verify if Brussels can accommodate identified needs. BAS requests that parents provide a copy of their child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) from their last school prior to the arrival to BAS.

The BAS can be reached by calling DSN 314-597-9000 or 011-32-2-280-9000

EDIS -- Educational and Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS) are located on SHAPE, not USAG Benelux - Brussels and can be reached at DSN 314-566-5305, 011-32-65-32-5326.

SSI -- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has now been approved for certain blind and disabled children of Service Members who were born overseas, developed blindness or disability overseas, or who first applied for SSI benefits overseas. This applies to our military in Europe if they meet eligibility requirements. Since the beneficiaries do not reside in the States there is no state supplement, only the federal SSI benefit.

Information on this benefit can be obtained by going to the Social Security website. There is a screening tool that may be useful to potential applicants. Additionally, there is a section on Special SSI Rules for Children of Military Personnel Living Overseas that provides useful information. It states that if you think your child may be eligible for SSI benefits, contact the U.S. Embassy, the nearest U.S. Consular Office, or write to the Social Security Administration attn: International Coordinator.

Please contact the Army Community Service (ACS) EFMP Coordinator upon your arrival or in advance if you have questions.