Stay on Top of Your Health With Well-Woman Exams (East Region)

2/9/2023

This article contains information specific to beneficiaries living in the East Region. Check the map to find your region.

A well-woman exam screens for and helps prevent cancer and disease. It’s a type of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention exam. TRICARE covers this type of exam each year for women under age 65. These exams can also include a covered cancer screening or vaccination.

A well-woman exam covers:

  • Breast exams. A physical exam of the breast to detect signs of cancer.
  • Pelvic exams. A physical exam of reproductive organs.
  • Pap smears. A brief procedure to remove cells from the cervix and the area around it. These are examined for signs of cervical cancer.
  • HPV DNA testing. Uses the same method as a Pap smear to look for DNA of HPV, which can cause abnormal changes to cells. These changes can lead to certain kinds of cancer. This test will screen for cervical cancer (for women over age 30 when done with a Pap smear).

Your primary care provider can order more visits without cost-sharing. However, Humana Military may review these visits for reasonable medical management.

Birth Control Consultations

Consultations to discuss contraceptive methods (also called “birth control”) and services are key parts of a well-woman exam. These can happen during your first visit or a following one. They’re provided without cost-sharing. TRICARE may also cover birth control with a prescription. Injections, intrauterine devices (IUDs), implantable rods, and diaphragm measurements and fittings may be covered without cost-sharing when provided at an in-network office visit or with a referral from your primary care provider. If you get birth control through a pharmacy, it may require a co-payment or cost-shareA percentage of the total cost of a covered health care service that you pay..

TRICARE covers several options for birth control:

  • Injections
  • Placement and removal of IUDs
  • Implantable rods (a birth control implant placed under the skin of the arm)
  • Diaphragm measurements and fittings
  • Oral pills
  • Transdermal contraceptives (also known as birth control patches)
  •  Prescription contraceptives used as emergency contraceptives

Coverage of Tubal Ligation Procedures

Tubal ligation is a type of permanent birth control. The procedure cuts, ties, or blocks the fallopian tubes. Effective Jan. 1, 2023, TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select beneficiaries can get tubal ligation procedures with no copayments or cost-shares if a TRICARE-authorized network provider performs the procedure. If a non-network provider performs the procedure, cost-sharing may apply.

To stay on top of your covered services, learn more about well-woman exams.

Last Updated 2/15/2023