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.

Get future issues of this newsletter, plus more news and benefit updates, delivered to your email. Sign up for TRICARE email updates.

Issue 3 | 2025

• Unlock Your Health: Learn When To Get Different Types of Care
  When a health issue comes up, knowing where to go for care can make a big difference. Whether it’s an accident or an illness, TRICARE covers a range of health care services—but the type of care you need determines where you should go.

• New to TRICARE? Here's How To Get Started With Your Benefit
  Have you recently enlisted in or received a commission to a uniformed service? Or, have you just married a uniformed service member? If you’re new to TRICARE, you may have some questions about how to enroll in a plan, get care, and learn more about your coverage. So, what exactly is TRICARE?

• Explore Available Counseling and Mental Health Services
  Are you a service member, family member, or survivor? Your TRICARE benefit covers a variety of mental health services. But did you know there are other counseling services available to you?

• TRICARE Logins: Know How To Access Portals and Manage Your Benefit
  Whether you need to make an appointment, check a claim, or download forms, knowing where to log in can make using your TRICARE benefits easier. Today’s Military Health System relies on multiple online platforms—each with a specific purpose. Understanding them, and how they’re evolving, can help you make the most of your health coverage.

• Unlock Your Health: Check Your Information in DEERS Today
  When was the last time you looked to see if 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. is up to date? If it’s been a while, it’s extremely important to take time and log in to DEERS to review or update your information.

• New Education Resources Available
  New education resources are available to help you manage your care. In addition to a step-by-step guide to accessing the beneficiary portal, you’ll find videos and guides to help you use the portal and manage and understand your care

• Commit To Quick Tobacco and Vaping
  There’s never a wrong time to consider quitting tobacco and vaping. TRICARE West Region offers resources to start your journey to a healthier lifestyle.

I need a loss of health care coverage letter to apply for commercial health insurance coverage. How do I get a letter from TRICARE?

Contact your local Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator. They can issue you a letter if your future coverage end date is within 6 months or if your coverage end date was in the last 6 years.

How do I get a copy of my archived medical records?

It depends on where you got care.

If you got care from a military hospital or clinic, request archived health records from the facility where you got care.

If you got care from a civilian provider, you must request a copy from the civilian provider.