April 28, 2022

10 TRICARE Health Care Terms You Should Know

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Have you recently come across a health care term and weren’t quite sure what it meant? It’s OK. Health care coverage is full of terms you may not know. To help you better understand your TRICARE benefit, here’s a list of commonly used health care terms and definitions.

April 19, 2022

Pre-Authorization and Medical Necessity for Prescription Drugs: What You Need to Know

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Prescription drugs are tools meant to support your overall health. TRICARE has procedures to make sure you get the right prescription drug to treat your condition. You must sometimes work with your doctor to get approval for coverage of certain drugs. Two examples of this are pre-authorization (also known as prior authorization) and medical necessity.

April 7, 2022

Do You Need All 4 Parts of Medicare for TRICARE For Life?

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Do you have Medicare, or will you soon be eligible to enroll? Medicare has four Parts: A, B, C, and D. It’s important that you understand how each part differs and which parts you’ll need for TRICARE For Life (TFL).

March 22, 2022

How Referrals Work With Your TRICARE Prime Plan

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Are you enrolled in a TRICARE Prime plan? Then you have a primary care manager (PCM) to handle your basic primary health care services. But what if you need specialty treatment, like from a cardiologist to evaluate a possible heart problem or a dermatologist to check a mole that’s changed? In that case, your PCM needs to submit a referral for you to see a specialist.

Feb. 15, 2022

Is Your DEERS Information Up to Date?

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — When is the last time you checked to see if your information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) is up to date? If it’s been a while, take time to log in to DEERS and review your information. Keeping information on you and your family current in DEERS is important. Inaccurate information in the DEERS database could prevent you from being able to use your TRICARE benefits properly.

Dec. 20, 2021

Need Health Advice at Home? Chat With a Nurse 24/7

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — With the threat of flu season added to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, you might not want to go to the doctor’s office for a minor health issue. And with the Military Health System (MHS) Nurse Advice Line, you may not have to. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the best ways to prevent flu and COVID-19 is to avoid contact with people who are sick. With the MHS Nurse Advice Line, you can get health advice 24/7 from a registered nurse from the comfort of your home.

Dec. 2, 2021

How to Choose Between TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — TRICARE Open Season is your yearly opportunity to review your current benefits. It’s a time to make changes to your health plan based on your personal needs. Dec. 13 marks the end of open season, so it’s important to make your decisions now. But which plan will best meet your needs in the new year?

Oct. 14, 2021

Keeping Your Eyes Healthy With TRICARE

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Do you think you need glasses or contact lenses? If so, you aren’t alone. About 11 million Americans over age 12 need some form of vision correction, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of course, the best way to find out if you need vision correction is by seeing your eye doctor.

Sept. 23, 2021

Knowing What’s What: Comparing TRICARE Dental Program Covered Services

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — From routine dental cleanings to oral surgery, the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) gives you access to a wide range of covered dental services. These services are placed into categories, and it’s important to know the differences between them so you’re aware of when and how much you need to pay for care.

Sept. 22, 2021

Retiring From the Service? Get to Know Your TRICARE Options

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — If you’re getting ready to retire from active duty or reserve service, your goal is likely to make a smooth transition to civilian life. TRICARE can help you do that. When you retire from active duty or retire from the National Guard or Reserve, you’ll experience a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event (QLE).