Changes to certain TRICARE benefits will start to take effect Jan. 1, 2018. The changes will offer more benefit choices, improve access to care, and simplify cost shares.

“It’s your health care, and you need to take command,” said Kira Sanchez, 673d Medical Group TRICARE contract liaison. “You need to make sure you’re informed of all these new changes, so that there are no surprises.”

Changes beneficiaries need to know about are region consolidation and TRICARE select.

Region Consolidation

Currently there are three TRICARE regions in the U.S.: North, South and West. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson falls under the West region. The North and South regions will combine Jan. 1, 2018, to form TRICARE East, while TRICARE West will remain mostly unchanged.

Two new contractors, Humana Military and Health Net Federal Services, will administer these regions. This change will allow better coordination between the military hospitals and clinics and the civilian health care providers in each region.

TRICARE Select 

On Jan. 1, 2018, TRICARE Select will replace TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra both stateside and overseas.

Stateside, TRICARE Select will be a self-managed, preferred provider network option. You will not be required to have a primary care manager (PCM) and therefore you can visit any TRICARE-authorized provider for services covered by TRICARE without a referral.

If you live overseas, TRICARE Overseas Program Select will be a preferred provider organization-styled plan that provides access to both network and non-network TRICARE authorized providers for medically necessary TRICARE covered services.

TRICARE Select will also adopt a number of improvements, including additional preventive care services previously only offered to TRICARE Prime beneficiaries.  

TRICARE Prime

TRICARE Prime is a managed care program option. An assigned PCM provides most of your care. When you need specialty care, your PCM will refer you to a specialist. Active duty service members and their family members do not pay anything when referred to a network provider by their PCM. All others pay annual enrollment fees and network copayments. 

Enrollment

Enrollment will no longer be a default medical plan and will require annual enrollment. All current TRICARE beneficiaries will be automatically enrolled into their respective plans on Jan. 1, 2018 as long as they are legible. TRICARE Prime enrollees will remain in TRICARE Prime. TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra beneficiaries will be enrolled in TRICARE Select. During 2018, you can continue to choose to enroll in or change coverage plans. 

In fall 2018, TRICARE will introduce an annual open enrollment period. During this period, beneficiaries will choose whether to continue or change coverage for the following year. Each year, the open enrollment period will begin on the Monday of the second full week in November and run through the Monday of the second full week in December. 

The best way for beneficiaries to prepare now is to make sure their information is correct in DEERS and report any changes as soon as possible to ensure continuous TRICARE coverage.

In the coming months, more information will be available at www.tricare.mil/changes. To stay informed, sign up for email alerts and receive an email anytime new updates are available.

Beneficiaries can also visit the TRICARE office located in the JBER Hospital or call the JBER Hospital appointment line at 580-2778 and follow the prompts to reach the TRICARE office.