What You Need to Know About TRICARE

TRICARE is the health care program for active-duty service members, National Guard and reservists, military retirees, their families, survivors, and certain former spouses.

TRICARE combines the healthcare resources of the Military Health System of military hospitals and clinics with an integrated network of civilian healthcare professionals, institutions, pharmacies, and suppliers to meet beneficiaries’ medical needs.

Depending on your status, you have multiple options to choose from including TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Select, TRICARE Prime Remote, TRICARE Prime Overseas, TRICARE Select Overseas, TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas, US Family Health Plan (in certain locations), TRICARE Young Adult (for dependent adult children), TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve, and TRICARE for Life (with Medicare Part A & B coverage). There are also dental options with TRICARE Dental, but we will explore that separately!

The TRICARE options can be confusing, so the best place to start is with your service personnel office to determine your TRICARE eligibility. You can also verify that your information is updated in DEERS. The TRICARE website offers all you need to know about TRICARE, but we’re going to break it down in our Tricare series!

Check out our 3-part TRICARE Series:

• Tricare 101
• Looking at TRICARE Options
• TRICARE Prime vs TRICARE Select

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