Health Matters (West) Newsletter

This quarterly newsletter provides information about your TRICARE benefit. This stateside edition contains information specific to beneficiaries living in the West Region. Check the map to find your region.

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Issue 4 | 2024

• Check Out Your 2025 TRICARE Health Plan Costs
  With 2025 just around the corner, you may be starting to consider your family’s health needs for next year. There may be changes to your TRICARE health plan costs starting Jan. 1, 2025. Depending on your plan, these costs may include enrollment fees, premiums, cost-shares, and copayments.

• Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones: Get Your Flu Shot With TRICARE
  As the leaves change and temperatures drop, it's time to think about your health. The fall and winter months bring an increased risk of respiratory illnesses, including flu, COVID-19, and RSV.

• TRICARE Enrollment Freeze and Scheduled milConnect and Beneficiary Web Enrollment Outage Beginning Oct. 25: What To Know
  TRICARE Open Season began Nov. 11. That means it’s time to check your information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System(DEERS) A database of information on uniformed services members (sponsors), U.S.-sponsored foreign military, DoD and uniformed services civilians, other personnel as directed by the DoD, and their family members. You need to register in DEERS to get TRICARE. and make sure it’s current. You should do this as soon as possible.

• Learn How Referrals and Specialty Care Will Work as New TRICARE Contracts Start in 2025
  Health care delivery under new TRICARE contracts starts on Jan. 1, 2025. This change will affect you unless you have TRICARE For Life, the US Family Health Plan, or a TRICARE health plan overseas. These new contracts will improve quality and access for beneficiaries in the United States. This includes enhancing referral management and access to Specialty CareSpecialized medical/surgical diagnosis, treatment, or services a primary care provider isn’t qualified to provide..

• Your Comprehensive TRICARE Open Season Checklist
  Did you know that TRICARE Open Season is underway? Open season runs from Nov. 11 to Dec. 10 this year, giving you the chance to change your health plan for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2025.

When are my coverage start and end dates after I enroll in a plan?

It depends on the plan and when you enroll. For example: If you enroll in TRICARE Select during the TRICARE Open Season, your coverage starts on Jan. 1, of the following year. If you enroll during a qualifying life event, your coverage starts on the date of the event (example, marriage, birth). Your coverage ends when you lose eligibility or disenroll.

To confirm your coverage dates, call your TRICARE contractor.

If you enrolled in a FEDVIP plan, call your FEDVIP dental or vision plan for information on your coverage start and end dates.

Do I need to reenroll in my TRICARE plan every year?

No. If you don't want to make a change, you don’t have to do anything. Your current plan continues next year if you remain TRICARE-eligible. 

If you want to change plans, you may do so during the TRICARE Open Season or when you have a Qualifying Life Event. The TRICARE Open Season applies to the plans below. 

The TRICARE Open Season doesn't apply to the plans below. 

In 2024, the TRICARE Open Season runs from Nov. 11 to Dec. 10. Changes go into effect Jan. 1, 2025.

Important 2025 Regional Contractor Changes (T-5)
If you live in the West Region or your state is switching to the West Region and you pay enrollment fees or premiums by credit card or EFT, you will need to provide payment information to TriWest, the new regional contractor replacing HealthNet. You have 2 options to set up payments with TriWest. Learn more.

Note: If you pay by allotment, you don’t need to do this. Allotment payments will transfer automatically.

What are the differences between TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select?

Use our TRICARE Compare Plans Tool to learn about the differences between TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select, including TRICARE Prime Overseas and TRICARE Select Overseas. To compare plans, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Compare Plans page.
2. Choose the plan you want to compare.
3. Select the 'Compare Plan' button.

When your results display, you can export your results to a spreadsheet. To add another plan to compare, repeat steps 2-3. You can compare up to 6 plans.