FALLS CHURCH, Va.   –   Keeping up to date with TRICARE health information is part of making the right healthcare choices for both you and your family members. Equally important, however, is how you manage your healthcare communications so you have quick and easy access to important records and information. This includes your explanation of benefits statements, bills, claims correspondence, and more.

“Do you prefer to get your EOBs, bills, and general TRICARE information in the mail? Or would you rather ‘go paperless’ with digital copies?” asked Yolanda Barber, contract oversight, TRICARE Health Plan, at the Defense Health Agency. “TRICARE partners give you the choice, so it’s important that you understand how to receive this information in the format that’s most helpful for you.”

Let’s explore what options you have to “go paperless” or get print copies of your healthcare communications.

Overview: print vs. digital

Generally, when you create an account with a TRICARE contractor, the system will automatically opt you “in” for paperless notifications. These notifications will come via email or text, which will direct you to your regional contractor’s secure beneficiary portal. Keep in mind that going paperless is a more secure way to access your healthcare information. If you prefer to receive paper copies, you can make your request through your regional contractor’s secure beneficiary portal that most communications come directly to you via mail.

Curious about your options? Some are listed below.

If you prefer digital

East Region or West Region

• EOBs: Once you’ve created your account with your regional contractor, you’ll be able to view your medical EOBs online. Keep in mind, if you don’t have an account, you won’t be able to access your EOBs online. To create or access your account, go to the East Region Beneficiary Self-Service portal or West Region Beneficiary Portal Log In.
• Claims: You don’t have a digital option. You’ll need to file all claims by mail or fax. But you can check the status of your claims online. Be sure to register on your claim processor’s site at East Region or West Region.
• Payments: Your paperless enrollment and monthly premium payment options depend on your plan. For more information, visit Pay My Bill.

Overseas

• EOBs: You’ll need to take action to get digital EOBs. You’ll need to have an email address on file through the TRICARE Overseas Region Secure Claims Portal. You can register for an account at the International SOS Secure Claims Portal Login.
• Claims: You can file overseas medical claims easily and securely online. Go to the Overseas contractor beneficiary secure claims portal to submit and track your claims.
• Payments: All enrollment fees and monthly premiums payment options are paperless. These include via allotment, electronic funds transfer, credit or debit card, phone, or online.

TRICARE For Life

• EOBs: You’ll need to take action to get digital EOBs. Create an account through the TRICARE For Life Benefits Administration Portal. There you can update your delivery option to digital. Once you’ve opted for digital delivery, you’ll get your medical EOBs when a medical claim has been processed.
• Paying Medicare premiums: To learn more about your digital options, go to Medicare Online Bill Payment.

TRICARE Pharmacy Program

• Managing prescriptions: You can manage your prescriptions quickly and easily though your online account with Express Scripts (the TRICARE Pharmacy Program contractor) or the Express Scripts Pharmacy mobile app.
• EOBs: You’ll automatically get pharmacy EOBs online if you have an email on file with Express Scripts or an Express Scripts account.
• Claims: You can file online claims if you have an Express Scripts account. For more information about filing claims, go to Pharmacy Claims.

TRICARE Dental Program

Are you enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program? United Concordia administers your TRICARE dental benefit.

• EOBs: You can view dental EOBs online via your United Concordia My Account. Once you’ve registered with My Account, you can
• View your coverage
• Pay your bill
• Find a network dentist
• Review your claim history and more

• Claims: In the U.S., you can’t file dental claims online—you’ll need to mail in your claim form and supporting documentation. Visit Dental Claims to learn more.

• Enrollment: Want to enroll in the TDP? You have two paperless choices: online or by phone. Visit the TRICARE Dental Program to learn more.

Are you overseas? As described in the TRICARE Dental Program Handbook, the quickest and easiest way to view your dental EOBs—and file dental claims—is on the TDP website. You can also file claims by mail or fax. Go to Dental Claims to learn more.

If you prefer paper

East Region or West Region

• EOBs: You must call your regional contractor to request paper medical EOBs. You can change your preference at any time by calling your regional contractor or logging in to their portal. Go to the East Region Beneficiary Self-Service portal or West Region Beneficiary Portal Log In.
• Claims: When filing a medical claim, you’ll fill out a paper claim form and mail or fax it in to your regional contractor. For information about filing claims, visit Medical Claims.
• Payments: You can request paper bills for your enrollment fees or premiums by calling your regional contractor. But to avoid missing a payment, you may want to set up an automatic payment method. Your payment options depend on your plan. For more information, visit Pay My Bill.

Overseas

• EOBs: You can get paper copies of your medical EOBs by calling the Overseas contractor, printing a copy from the International SOS Region Secure Claims Portal, or by changing your preferences in the portal. If you don’t have an Overseas secure claims portal account, you’ll automatically get paper EOBs each time a claim has been processed.
• Claims: You can mail in paper claims. Just be sure to file the claim with the overseas claim processor using the address for the area where you got the care. To learn more, visit Filing Claims Overseas.
• Payments: Overseas enrollment and monthly premium payments are paperless only.

TRICARE For Life

• EOBs: You’ll get monthly summaries of medical EOBs based on the services you received. However, if you don’t owe any payment, you’ll only get the summaries every 90 days.
• Payments: You don’t have any enrollment fees with TFL, but you must have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. To learn more about paying your Medicare Part B premiums, visit Medicare.gov.

TRICARE Pharmacy Program

• EOBs: You must request paper EOBs from the pharmacy contractor, Express Scripts. You can update your preferences by calling Express Scripts or changing your preferences in the Express Scripts Pharmacy mobile app. If you don’t have an Express Scripts account or an email on file, you’ll get a paper EOB every three months.
• Claims: Follow the instructions on TRICARE DoD/CHAMPUS Medical Claim—Patient’s Request for Medical Payment (DD Form 2642) and mail in your paperwork. For details, go to Pharmacy Claims.

Depending on the contractor, you can set your preferences either online, on the phone, or through an app. Check out your options today.

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