US Army Soldier For Life

TRICARE is changing. Are you ready?

November 29, 2017

Starting January 1, 2018, there may be changes to your TRICARE benefits. The following will remain the same:

TRICARE will continue to offer several different health plans.
All plans meet or exceed the requirements for minimal essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
Plan availability depends on who you are and where you live.

Plans Affected	Plans NOT Affected
TRICARE PRIME, Prime Remote, Prime Overseas, and TRICARE Prime Overseas Remote TRICARE Standard and Extra, and TRICARE Standard Overseas (now called Select and Select Overseas) TRICARE Reserve Select TRICARE Retired Reserve TRICARE Young Adult	TRICARE For Life US Family Health Plan Continued Health Care Benefit Program

Changes That May Affect You	Overview
TRICARE Standard/Extra (Select) Learn More	TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra will become the new TRICARE Select plan.
TRICARE Prime Learn More	TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote, TRICARE Prime Overseas, TRICARE Overseas Remote, TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve, and TRICARE Young Adult will undergo changes.
Other Plans Learn More	TRICARE For Life (Medicare wrap-around coverage), US Family Health Plan, and the Continued Health Care Benefit Program won’t change.
General TRICARE Changes Learn More	Costs:Some costs will change annually starting on Jan. 1, 2018. Enrollment:You will be automatically enrolled on Jan. 1, 2018 if you already have a plan or are eligible for TRICARE on Dec. 31, 2017. After Jan. 1, 2018, you must enroll in a TRICARE plan to get or change coverage. Regions and Contracts:The North and South regions will become the new East Region. The West region will remain the same but your regional contractors may change. Access: Certain urgent care and primary care providers will offer extended hours and technological improvements will improve access. Coverage: You can expect expanded coverage.

What You Need to Do	Important Dates
Update your information in DEERS: Check your current information. This includes your address, email address, and phone number in DEERS. Update new information. Did you have a significant life event? This includes if you activated, retired, separated, had or adopted a baby, got married or divorced, etc.	Now
Sign up for TRICARE benefit updates.	Ongoing
Update your payment information if you use electronic payments. (You will be contacted by your regional contractor.)	Beginning Oct. 1, 2017

What You Need to Do

Important Dates

Update your information in DEERS:

Check your current information. This includes your address, email address, and phone number in DEERS.
Update new information. Did you have a significant life event? This includes if you activated, retired, separated, had or adopted a baby, got married or divorced, etc.

Now

Ongoing

Update your payment information if you use electronic payments. (You will be contacted by your regional contractor.)

Beginning
Oct. 1, 2017

What You Need to Know	Date
The new network provider directories available. Check if your current provider is in network.	Beginning Nov. 1, 2017
You’ll be notified by your regional contractor if you’re being assigned a new Primary Care Manager.	Beginning Jan. 1, 2018
New East and West regional contractor’s call center will be open for enrollment questions.	Beginning Nov. 20, 2017
The processing of new enrollments will be delayed during December as we transfer files to new regional contractors.	December 2017
Explanation of Benefits (EOB) are going paperless. They will be available electronically only unless you specifically request to receive them by mail.	Jan. 1, 2018

Suggestions?
If you have suggestions on information you want to know about the upcoming changes, please email them to: dha.tricare-changes@mail.mil.