Ramstein UBO keeps patients up-to-date

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sharida Jackson
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Most military members are familiar with Tricare medical coverage and benefits, but what happens to those that are not covered under Tricare? Where do they go when they need assistance with medical insurance related issues?

The Ramstein Uniform Business Office provides medical billing claims and services to more than 700 personnel not covered under Tricare.

The office primarily deals with third-party collections and medical service accounts, which include Department of Defense Dependents Schools teachers and Army & Air Force Exchange Service employees. 

"A big misconception is that people tend to think everyone has medical insurance with Tricare," said Tech. Sgt. Anival Medrano, 86th Medical Support Squadron UBO NCO in-charge.

Airmen assigned to the UBO ensure 86th Medical Group patients with third-party insurance have up-to-date information and are aware of the services available to them.

"Third party collections involve collecting funds from insurance providers whenever someone else has other health insurance," said Airman Ryan Darish, 86th MDSS medical claims technician.

One of the main goals of the UBO is to verify patients have their DoD Form 2569, Third-Party Collection Program - Record of Other Health Insurance, up-to-date. Each patient with third-party insurance is required to have a DD 2569 on file and must resubmit the form annually.

If an individual doesn't have a DD 2569 on file, or if the information is not up-to-date, UBO personnel cannot bill and collect funds from their insurance company. In such a case, the individual may be responsible for paying their own medical bills.

"We try to educate our patients on how the billing process works from beginning to end," Medrano said. "That way they know what their responsibilities are."

Members of the UBO will be collecting and updating DD 2569s at the Ramstein KMCC food court Feb. 27th.

"Helping our customers is our top priority," said Darish. "If they have questions or concerns, we want them to know that we are here for them."