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 | June 16, 2023

TRICARE Tips To Protect Yourself From Ticks

By TRICARE Communications

Is your family planning to spend more time outdoors this summer? As the weather gets warmer, keep ticks in mind. Since ticks are more active as temperatures rise, the chances of finding a tick on you, your family members, or pets increase in the summer months.
 
Lyme disease is one of the most widely known illnesses associated with ticks. Health care providers diagnose and treat an estimated 476,000 Americans for Lyme disease each year, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Learn simple steps you can take to protect yourself from ticks.
 
Know what ticks look like. Learn which tick species live in your region and in places where you travel. Blacklegged ticks and western blacklegged ticks spread Lyme disease. According to the CDC, adult blacklegged ticks are typically the size of a sesame seed.
 
Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live in grassy, brushy, and wooded areas, and on animals. Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. If you’re in the woods, walk in the center of trails. Activities like camping, hiking, and hunting can bring you in close contact with ticks, but so can activities like walking your dog, gardening, and spending time in your own yard or neighborhood.
 
Protect your body before going outdoors. Cover your skin and scalp by wearing a hat, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks, especially in grassy, brushy, and wooded areas. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends using insect repellent to discourage ticks from landing on you and biting you. Learn how to use insect repellent safely and effectively before applying it to yourself or family members.
 
Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. After working or playing in the yard, check your clothes and body for ticks. Key parts of the body to check include:
  • Under the arms
  • In and around the ears
  • Inside the belly button
  • Back of the knees
  • In and around the hair
 
Showering may help wash off unattached ticks and reduce your risk of getting tick-borne diseases, so shower soon after being outdoors. If you find a tick attached to your skin, the CDC recommends removing the tick with a pair of clean, fine-tipped tweezers. After removing the tick, you should thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands. Never crush a tick with your fingers. To dispose of a live tick, flush it down the toilet or place it in a secure container. You can also submit the tick to MilTICK for free tick testing and identification.
 
Your pets can also harbor ticks, so don’t forget to carefully examine your furry friends after they’ve been outside.
 
Learn the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease. Seek medical attention if you have any Lyme disease symptoms and have noticed a tick bite, live in an area known for Lyme disease, or have recently traveled to an area where the disease occurs. Symptoms include:
  • Bullseye-shaped bite mark
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or joint aches
  • Swollen lymph nodes
 
“In most cases, a tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted,” says the CDC. If you remove the tick within 24 hours, you can greatly reduce your chances of getting Lyme disease.
 
A Lyme disease diagnosis requires a positive blood test. TRICARE covers these tests when they’re ordered by a TRICARE-authorized provider. If Lyme disease is diagnosed early, your doctor may treat you with a standard round of antibiotics. If a Lyme infection is left untreated, you may need more intensive courses of medication.
 
Lyme isn’t the only disease spread by ticks, so it’s good to know which diseases are spread by ticks where you live and travel. According to the CDC, babesiosis cases have significantly increased in the northeastern United States. As with Lyme, the best way to prevent babesiosis is to take simple steps to reduce your exposure to ticks.
 
If you need medical advice or care, the Military Health System Nurse Advice Line is a 24/7 resource. Also, understand your urgent care and emergency care options.
 
Take care of yourself and your family this summer by avoiding bug-borne illnesses. For more tips on preventing bug bites and treating bug-borne illnesses, visit Bug Week.
 
Would you like the latest TRICARE news sent to you by email? Visit TRICARE Subscriptions, and create your personalized profile to get benefit updates, news, and more.
Uniformed service member stands and smiles with wife and child, as toddler waves to the camera.

Check Out Your 2025 TRICARE Health Plan Costs

News
Nov. 07, 2024

With 2025 just around the corner, you may be starting to consider your family’s health needs for next year...
Read More
TRICARE Open Season 2024 graphic with woman writing on pad of paper.

Your Comprehensive TRICARE Open Season Checklist...

News
Nov. 05, 2024

TRICARE Open Season is right around the corner. This year, it runs from Nov. 11 to Dec. 10. Follow this...
Read More
Dentist works on patient's teeth

TRICARE Dental Program Premiums Decrease Effecti...

News
Oct. 30, 2024

If you’re enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program, your TDP monthly premiums will decrease for coverage...
Read More
TRICARE Open Season Webinar graphic

Get Ready for TRICARE Open Season and 2025 Regio...

News
Oct. 29, 2024

Are you ready for TRICARE Open Season and the upcoming changes to TRICARE in 2025? Mark your calendar for a...
Read More
Woman looking at laptop screen

Q&A: What To Know as TRICARE Open Season Begins ...

News
Oct. 24, 2024

TRICARE Open Season begins Monday, Nov. 11—that’s just a few weeks away. If you’re a TRICARE beneficiary, this...
Read More
Man works on a laptop

TRICARE Claim Form Updated To Assist in Processi...

News
Oct. 23, 2024

If you’ve submitted a claim for reimbursement, then you may be familiar with the TRICARE claim form, Patient’s...
Read More
TRICARE Enrollment Freeze Oct. 25-27, 2024

TRICARE Enrollment Freeze and Scheduled milConne...

News
Oct. 21, 2024

It’s almost time for TRICARE Open Season, which begins Nov. 11. That means you should check your information...
Read More
Man receives a vaccine.

Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones: Get Your F...

News
Oct. 17, 2024

The fall and winter months bring an increased risk of respiratory illnesses, including flu, COVID-19, and...
Read More

Nov. 7, 2024

Check Out Your 2025 TRICARE Health Plan Costs

With 2025 just around the corner, you may be starting to consider your family’s health needs for next year. There may be changes to your TRICARE health plan costs starting Jan. 1, 2025. Depending on your plan, these costs may include enrollment fees, premiums, cost-shares, and copayments.

Nov. 5, 2024

Your Comprehensive TRICARE Open Season Checklist: Prepare for Nov. 11

TRICARE Open Season is right around the corner. This year, it runs from Nov. 11 to Dec. 10. Follow this detailed checklist to ensure you’re fully prepared.

Oct. 30, 2024

TRICARE Dental Program Premiums Decrease Effective Nov. 1

If you’re enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program, your TDP monthly premiums will decrease for coverage effective Nov. 1. These new rates will remain in effect until Feb. 28, 2025.

Oct. 29, 2024

Get Ready for TRICARE Open Season and 2025 Region Changes at Nov. 14 Webinar

Are you ready for TRICARE Open Season and the upcoming changes to TRICARE in 2025? Mark your calendar for a TRICARE webinar, “Get Ready for TRICARE Open Season and 2025 Region Changes,” on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2–3 p.m. ET on Microsoft Teams Live.

Oct. 24, 2024

Q&A: What To Know as TRICARE Open Season Begins Nov. 11

TRICARE Open Season begins Monday, Nov. 11—that’s just a few weeks away. If you’re a TRICARE beneficiary, this is the time when you can enroll in a health plan or change health plans for coverage that starts Jan. 1, 2025. You can make these changes through Tuesday, Dec. 10.

Oct. 23, 2024

TRICARE Claim Form Updated To Assist in Processing Overseas Claims

If you’ve submitted a claim for reimbursement, then you may be familiar with the TRICARE claim form, Patient’s Request for Medical Payment (DD Form 2642). In September 2024, this form was updated to include fields that’ll make it easier when filing claims for care received overseas.

Oct. 21, 2024

TRICARE Enrollment Freeze and Scheduled milConnect and Beneficiary Web Enrollment Outage Beginning Oct. 25: What To Know

It’s almost time for TRICARE Open Season, which begins Nov. 11. That means you should check your information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System as soon as possible. There will be a global TRICARE enrollment freeze from Oct. 25-27, and limitations to the Beneficiary Web Enrollment self-service portal between Oct. 28 and Dec. 31.

Oct. 17, 2024

Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones: Get Your Flu Shot With TRICARE

The fall and winter months bring an increased risk of respiratory illnesses, including flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus. Getting your flu shot is an easy way to help ward off illness. The vaccine lowers your chance of getting sick, going to the hospital, or even dying from the flu.

Oct. 16, 2024

Unlock Your Health by Scheduling a TRICARE Well-Woman Exam

With TRICARE, you have access to a wide range of preventive care specific to your needs. For women, this includes comprehensive services like an annual well-woman exam.

Oct. 10, 2024

Live in the West Region? Update Your TRICARE Payment Information With TriWest

Do you currently live in the West Region? Or, do you live in one of the six states (Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin) moving to the West Region in 2025? If you pay for your TRICARE coverage via credit card or bank electronic funds transfer, you can now securely give your recurring payment information to the incoming West Region contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance.