What is a primary characteristic of a Standard TRICARE plan?

A primary characteristic of a Standard TRICARE plan is that it operates as a fee-for-service cost-sharing plan. This means that beneficiaries can receive care from a wide network of providers and are responsible for a portion of the costs associated with their healthcare services. In this setup, the beneficiary pays a deductible and a share of the expenses (co-insurance) after receiving care, while TRICARE covers the remaining costs. This flexibility allows members to use both military and civilian healthcare providers, making it distinct from other managed care plans that have stricter provider networks or predetermined costs for visits.

The other options describe different types of health insurance plans which do not align with the characteristics of the Standard TRICARE plan. For example, a health maintenance organization plan typically requires members to select a primary care physician and get referrals for specialty care, which is not a feature of Standard TRICARE. Additionally, a limited benefit plan with no cost-sharing would not require any out-of-pocket expenses, diverging from the traditional cost structure of a fee-for-service plan. Lastly, a pay-per-visit plan generally suggests a model where payment is made for each visit rather than following the broader cost-sharing model that is foundational to the Standard TRICARE plan.