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News | Dec. 6, 2022

Choose a TRICARE Health Plan Before Dec. 13 Deadline

By TRICARE Communications

Time is running out to evaluate your 2023 health care coverage. TRICARE Open Season ends on Tuesday, Dec. 13. This is the last day you can make changes to your coverage taking effect Jan. 1.
 
“In these last few remaining days of TRICARE Open Season, you should consider your health care needs for the next year,” said Dr. Danita Hunter, chief of TRICARE Policy and Programs. “Use the tools and information on the TRICARE website to help you review your plan options, ask any questions, and make your selection before the Dec. 13 deadline.”
 
Open season applies to beneficiaries who are eligible for TRICARE Prime, US Family Health Plan (USFHP), and TRICARE Select plans. If you aren’t sure what health plans you may qualify for, you can use the TRICARE Plan Finder. During open season, you have the option to stay in your current health plan, enroll in a health plan, or change health plans. Staying in your current plan requires no action. If you want to enroll in or change plans, you only have a few days left to act.
 
1. Review your options. You can research your health plan options on the TRICARE website. Compare TRICARE Prime, USFHP, and TRICARE Select using the TRICARE Compare Plans Tool. Look up 2023 costs for each plan and compare costs with the TRICARE Compare Costs Tool.
 
2. Take action. There are several ways to enroll in or change your TRICARE plan. Visit Enroll or Purchase a Plan for all your options and instructions.
 
Once open season ends, you can still change your health plan if you experience a major life change known as a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). As noted in the TRICARE Qualifying Life Events Fact Sheet, examples of QLEs include moving, marriage, and the birth of a child. A QLE opens a brief 90-day window for you to make changes to your TRICARE health plan.
 
Open season doesn’t apply to active duty service members. It doesn’t apply to TRICARE For Life—coverage is automatic if you have Medicare Part A and Part B. Open season also doesn’t apply to premium-based plans. You can purchase the following plans at any time throughout the year:  
Don’t forget the Federal Benefits Open Season ends on Monday, Dec. 12. This is different than TRICARE Open Season. If you’re eligible for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), you can go to BENEFEDS to research FEDVIP dental and vision plans and enroll.
 
Use these last few days of open season to make the right choices for you and your family. Remember, you don’t need to do anything if you want to stay in your same plan. Your plan will renew automatically. However, if you want to make a change, do it now.
 
Would you like the latest TRICARE news sent to you by email? Visit the TRICARE Subscriptions page today, and create your personalized profile to get benefit updates, news, and more.
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