An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News | Jan. 24, 2023

Protect Yourself From Respiratory Illness This Winter

By TRICARE Communications

Fevers and sniffles and coughs—oh my! Viruses like COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are more common during the winter months. These viruses can cause severe illness in some people, so it’s important to know what to do if you feel under the weather.
 
“If you feel sick, contact your health care provider as soon as possible,” said Col. John Verghese, chief, Clinical Oversight and Integration, TRICARE Health Plan. “Getting a diagnosis is key to starting the right treatment. It can also help you take the right steps to preventing the spread of illness to others.”
 
There’s a lot to know about COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Read on for an overview of diagnosing, treating, and preventing these viruses.
 
What Do My Symptoms Mean?
People of all ages can catch COVID-19, flu, and RSV. These viruses all have similar symptoms.
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can’t tell the difference between COVID-19 and flu by symptoms alone. This is because some of their symptoms are the same. Common symptoms shared by these viruses include:
  • Fever or feeling feverish/having chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue (tiredness)
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle pain or body aches
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea (more frequent in children with flu, but can occur in any age with COVID-19)
  • Change in or loss of taste or smell (more frequent with COVID-19)
 
Compared to people with flu, people with COVID-19 may take longer to show symptoms and may be contagious for longer periods of time, says the CDC. Additionally, COVID-19 symptoms may change when new variants emerge. It’s also possible for people with previous COVID-19 infections to be reinfected and become severely ill.
 
RSV symptoms typically start within four to six days after getting infected. Symptoms usually appear in stages, not all at once. People infected with RSV usually show these symptoms:
  • Runny nose
  • Decrease in appetite
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Fever
  • Wheezing
 
RSV may cause a different set of symptoms in infants less than six months old. If you have a young infant, watch for irritability, decreased activity and appetite, and trouble breathing.
 
What Should I Do If I Get Sick?
If you or a family member starts to feel sick, contact your primary care provider or the Military Health System Nurse Advice Line for guidance on testing and treatment.
 
Your provider will decide if you need to be tested for COVID-19, flu, or RSV. TRICARE covers medically necessary lab tests—including COVID-19, flu, and RSV tests—at no cost when they’re ordered by a TRICARE-authorized provider or a provider at a military hospital or clinic. TRICARE also covers medically necessary at-home COVID-19 tests if they’re FDA-approved and ordered by a TRICARE-authorized provider. You may also be eligible to order a set of at-home COVID-19 tests free of charge from the U.S. Postal Service. If your household received test kits through this program before December 2022, you may participate again.
 
Depending on your diagnosis, your provider may also prescribe you prescription drugs or recommend over-the-counter drugs to help manage your symptoms.
 
In addition to following your provider’s recommendations, follow the tips below to avoid spreading illness.
 
How Can I Prevent the Spread of Viruses?
There are many ways you can help to prevent catching and spreading viruses. You can take these steps when you feel well or sick:
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you’re sick, except when getting medical care.
  • Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
  • Wash your hands often.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
 
If you think you have COVID-19 or you test positive for it, follow CDC recommendations for isolation and precautions. Remember, if you test positive for COVID-19 but you don’t have symptoms, it’s still possible to spread the virus.
 
Vaccination remains a key tool for preventing and reducing the severity of COVID-19 and flu. Learn more about TRICARE coverage for COVID-19 vaccines—including boosters—and flu vaccines. There is no vaccine for RSV.
 
Learn More
CDC.gov has much more information about COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Visit their website to learn more about risk factors, transmission, symptoms, treatment, and prevention steps for each virus.
 
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.
Man and woman use a camera outdoors

Q&A: TRICARE For Life and Your Family

News
Sep. 14, 2023

Learn how your family’s TRICARE coverage works when one family member becomes eligible for Medicare and...
Read More
Dentist shows patient X-ray on tablet

TRICARE Tips to Protect Your Teeth in a Dental E...

News
Sep. 06, 2023

Dental emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time. Fortunately, the TRICARE Dental Program covers emergency...
Read More
Person holding credit card next to laptop

Copayments, Cost-Shares, and Other TRICARE Costs...

News
Aug. 29, 2023

When it comes to health care costs, “copayment,” “cost-share,” and “deductible” are terms you might hear a...
Read More
A scientist looks through a microscope

TRICARE Laboratory Developed Tests Demonstration...

News
Aug. 23, 2023

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) announced the five-year extension of the Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs)...
Read More
Closeup of a hands holding a smartphone with the Express Scripts app on the screen

Stay on Top of TRICARE Prescriptions With Expres...

News
Aug. 17, 2023

Do you need help managing your prescriptions? Express Scripts, the TRICARE pharmacy contractor, has a free,...
Read More
A woman reads over a document

Have Other Health Insurance? Here’s How It Works...

News
Aug. 15, 2023

If you have coverage in addition to TRICARE through your employer, your spouse’s employer, or a private...
Read More
Closeup of a person's hands on a laptop keyboard

How To Find Your TRICARE Referrals

News
Aug. 09, 2023

If you have a TRICARE Prime plan, referrals play a big role in how you get health care. A referral is when...
Read More
Military evacuates family by boat

Before Natural Disasters Strike, Know Your TRICA...

News
Aug. 02, 2023

When the government issues a state of emergency, TRICARE may temporarily change its procedures to ensure that...
Read More

Sept. 14, 2023

Q&A: TRICARE For Life and Your Family

Learn how your family’s TRICARE coverage works when one family member becomes eligible for Medicare and TRICARE For Life.

Sept. 6, 2023

TRICARE Tips to Protect Your Teeth in a Dental Emergency

Dental emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time. Fortunately, the TRICARE Dental Program covers emergency dental care. You’ll pay no cost-share for emergency dental services regardless of your pay grade or location. But there are still steps you may need to take to ensure your teeth and gums stay protected in an emergency.

Aug. 29, 2023

Copayments, Cost-Shares, and Other TRICARE Costs You Should Know

When it comes to health care costs, “copayment,” “cost-share,” and “deductible” are terms you might hear a lot. But what do these terms mean, and how might they affect you?

Aug. 23, 2023

TRICARE Laboratory Developed Tests Demonstration Extended, Certain Tests Now Covered

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) announced the five-year extension of the Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) Demonstration. This means that if you have TRICARE, you’ll continue to have access to certain LDTs that aren’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The DHA also announced that TRICARE will now cover several preconception and prenatal carrier screenings that were previously offered through the demonstration as part of the basic TRICARE benefit.

Aug. 17, 2023

Stay on Top of TRICARE Prescriptions With Express Scripts App

Do you need help managing your prescriptions? Express Scripts, the TRICARE pharmacy contractor, has a free, easy-to-use app that can help. The Express Scripts Pharmacy mobile app is a secure way to stay on top of taking your medication. The app is full of useful features, like dose reminders and the ability to approve refills. Here’s a look at some of the ways the app can help you.

Aug. 15, 2023

Have Other Health Insurance? Here’s How It Works With TRICARE

If you have coverage in addition to TRICARE through your employer, your spouse’s employer, or a private insurance program, you have other health insurance (OHI). Certain OHI plans can affect your TRICARE health, dental, and pharmacy benefits. Here are six tips to help you learn how TRICARE works when you also use OHI.

Aug. 9, 2023

How To Find Your TRICARE Referrals

If you have a TRICARE Prime plan, referrals play a big role in how you get health care. A referral is when your primary care manager (PCM) sends you to see another provider. If your PCM needs to refer you to a civilian provider, your TRICARE regional contractor also plays a role in the referral process.

Aug. 2, 2023

Before Natural Disasters Strike, Know Your TRICARE Benefits

When the government issues a state of emergency, TRICARE may temporarily change its procedures to ensure that you receive timely medical care. Here’s what you need to know.

July 27, 2023

Understanding Medicare Part D and TRICARE Pharmacy Coverage

You may already have TRICARE For Life (TFL). Or perhaps you’re eligible to transition to this coverage soon. Either way, you may have questions about your TRICARE prescription drug coverage. For instance, you may wonder if you need to have Medicare Part D, Medicare’s prescription coverage. You don’t need Medicare Part D to have TFL. That’s because TFL has the same prescription drug coverage as other TRICARE health plans. (This doesn’t include the US Family Health Plan.)

July 25, 2023

Beat the Back-to-School Rush: TRICARE Preventive Health Checks for Kids

It helps to get required back-to-school health checks before the last minute. Summer vacation is also a perfect time to get other health care services for your kids, like dental and eye exams.