Changes

Upcoming Changes to TRICARE

The Military Health System (MHS) is modernizing to better serve you and respond to changes in law and policy. These modernization efforts will:

• Affect what plans are available
• Reduce TRICARE regions from 3 to 2
• Affect which regional contractor will administer your benefit
• Increase access to TRICARE networks
• Implement new medical health record technology 

Over the coming months and years, you will see some significant changes to TRICARE. Here is what you can expect:

• Two plans will be updated or created: TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select.
• TRICARE For Life (Medicare Wrap Around Coverage) will NOT change.
• TRICARE North and TRICARE South regions will combine to form TRICARE East, while TRICARE West will remain mostly unchanged.
• New contractors will administer these two regions.
• Better integration between military hospitals and clinics and the network of civilian health care providers.

More information about each of these changes is below.

Introducing TRICARE Select

Starting January 1, 2018, TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra are converting into a new plan, TRICARE Select. If you currently use TRICARE Standard or TRICARE Extra:

• Your plan name will change to TRICARE Select.
• Most will automatically be enrolled in TRICARE Select and will remain in Select unless you choose to change your coverage or you lose TRICARE eligibility.

Features for TRICARE Prime

On January 1, 2018, if you are currently enrolled in TRICARE Prime, you will remain in Prime unless you choose to change your coverage or you lose TRICARE eligibility. 

Features for Both Plans

• Annual enrollment will change from fiscal yearOctober 1 - September 30 to calendar year (expect to see more information this year).
• If you choose to switch between Prime and Select, you must do so during an open enrollment period or within 90 days of a major life event like marriage, divorce, child birth, moving, and others.

We will provide more details as they become available.

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What Can You Do Now to Prepare For the Changes?

To prepare for the changes now, you should:

• Sign up for a DS Logon.
• Update your personal information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System for you and your family.
• Sign up for eCorrespondence in milConnect so you get important updates.

Sign up for email alerts about the changes. You will get an email anytime we update this page. 

New TRICARE Regions

Currently, there are three TRICARE regions in the U.S. - North, South and West.

Starting January 1, 2018, these will consolidate into two U.S. regions. While the West RegionAlaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa (excludes Rock Island arsenal area), Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri (except St. Louis area), Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas (southwestern corner including El Paso), Utah, Washington and Wyoming. will remain unchanged, the North and South Regions will combine to form TRICARE East. 

These will consolidate into two U.S. regions. While the West Region will remain unchanged, the North and South Regions will combine to form TRICARE East.

New TRICARE Regional Contractors

Starting January 1, 2018, there will be new regional contractors for the East and West Regions. Each region is administered by a contractor to provide you with health care. 

Your regional contractor is your main resource for customer service, claims processing, and prior authorization for certain health care services. We have added improvements in the delivery, quality, and cost of your health care from previous contracts. 

What Does This Mean For Me?

Most of these changes will be behind the scenes. But, you may experience some changes:

• Your network providers may change
• You may get a new primary care manager if you have TRICARE Prime
• More support between regions -- especially when you move
• Improvements if you’re a family with special needs

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Improved Communication Between Your Military and Civilian Providers

TRICARE brings together military hospitals and clinics with a network of civilian health care providers.  Together, we offer you medical plans, dental programs, and a pharmacy benefit. To enhance your experience, we are also improving integration between military and civilian providers.

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