Naval Hospital Bremerton encourages Beneficiaries to ‘Take Command: Enroll Now for 2018 TRICARE Coverage’

Photo By Douglas Stutz | Shining some light on upcoming changes...Naval Hospital Bremerton encourages beneficiaries to 'take command and enroll now for 2018 TRICARE coverage. There will be a number of changes coming to beneficiaries with their TRICARE benefit. This includes a change to the current TRICARE regions. Additionally, the TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra options will be replaced with a new TRICARE Select option. In preparation for these changes, enrollments in TRICARE health plans will be delayed while the Defense Manpower Data center adds the new healthcare delivery plan information into the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and beneficiary files are transferred to the incoming regional contractors. The delay period - or enrollment freeze - will begin on December 1, 2017 and last approximately three weeks, or until the data transfer is complete (Official Navy photo by Douglas H Stutz, Naval Hospital Bremerton Public Affairs)  

BREMERTON , WA, UNITED STATES

11.15.2017

Story by Douglas Stutz    

Naval Hospital Bremerton/Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Bremerton

There will be a number of changes coming to beneficiaries with their TRICARE benefit. This includes a change to the current TRICARE regions.

The current three regions (North, South and West) will become two regions (East and West). There will be new regional contractors for the East and West regions. Humana Military will manage the East Region and Health Net Federal Services, LLC will manage the West Region.

Additionally, the TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra options will be replaced with a new TRICARE Select option.

In preparation for these changes, enrollments in TRICARE health plans will be delayed while the Defense Manpower Data center adds the new healthcare delivery plan information into the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and beneficiary files are transferred to the incoming regional contractors. The delay period - or enrollment freeze - will begin on December 1, 2017 and last approximately three weeks, or until the data transfer is complete.

“TRICARE eligible beneficiaries will still have access to care during the enrollment freeze. However, if anyone wishes to make changes to their TRICARE coverage, I encourage them to do so as soon as possible,” said Terry Roberts, Naval Hospital Bremerton Director of Healthcare Business.

If any eligible beneficiary would like to switch to a different TRICARE health plan, or enroll in a plan for the first time, take action before November 20, 2017. They can enroll in certain TRICARE plans online, by phone or by mail. Learn about how to enroll in or purchase a health plan on the TRICARE website: https://tricare.mil/Plans/Enroll.

Beneficiaries don’t have to enroll in TRICARE Select if already in TRICARE Standard or TRICARE Extra as of November 30, 2017. They will be automatically converted to TRICARE Select on January 1, 2018, as long as registered in the DEERS and are eligible for TRICARE. Learn more about TRICARE Select, which replaces TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra next year at https://tricare.mil/About/Changes/Select

Beginning November 20, 2017, eligible beneficiaries will not be able to use the Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) website to enroll or disenroll from TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Young Adult (TYA), TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve, and TRICARE Dental options or select and/or change in primary care managers.

While the BWE website is unavailable, regional contractors will accept enrollment applications through other communications channels, such as phone and mail. Regional contractors will process these applications once the enrollment freeze is complete. Instructions on how to submit TRICARE enrollment forms during the enrollment freeze can be found at: www.tricare.mil/changes/enroll

Enrolled beneficiaries still have access to care during the enrollment freeze. It is also recommended to save pharmacy and other health care receipts while an enrollment is pending for reimbursement for TRICARE covered expenses once the enrollment freeze is complete and the enrollment is processed.

If there is a problem accessing care while the enrollment is pending, contact your regional contractor. If there is a problem getting your medications while your enrollment is pending, contact Express Scripts.

This is Your Benefit! Are You Ready?
Take command of your health care and prepare for the upcoming changes to TRICARE:
• Update your personal information in DEERS
• Make sure you have a current DS Logon
• Sign up for eCorrespondence in milConnect
• Sign up for TRICARE benefit updates
For more information, visit www.tricare.mil/changes. And follow TRICARE on Facebook and Twitter.

• Date Taken: 11.15.2017
• Date Posted: 11.16.2017 10:11
• Story ID: 255536
• Location: BREMERTON , WA, US