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Paying TRICARE Prime Enrollment Fees (Article 4)
Humana Military Offers Several Alternative Payment Options

Instead of mailing a check or driving over to the TRICARE Service Center to pay your TRICARE Prime enrollment fees, why not save on stamps and gasoline? Here are several alternative payment options.

Electronically

You can pay your bill quarterly or annually online with a credit card. Just visit Humana Military’s enrollment page. Paying online is the quickest and easiest way to make your payments. Plus, it’s a secure Web site, so the confidentiality of your personal information will be maintained.

By Phone

You can also pay your enrollment fees with a credit card by phone. To do this, call Humana Military at 1-800-444-5445.

Automatic Monthly Payments
If you don’t want to think about making payments, Humana Military’s automatic monthly payment methods are for you. There are two ways to set up monthly payments: you can choose to pay monthly with an allotment from retirement pay, or you can pay with an electronic funds transfer (EFT) from your bank account. Keep in mind that you can only pay fees monthly if you select one of these two options.  The advantages of selecting an allotment or EFT are obvious:
 
  • No bill in the mail—deductions are automatic
  • Smaller monthly payments—easier to budget
  • Never a forgotten payment—no mistaken disenrollments for failure to pay fees
Here’s how to get started with either option:
 
Allotment from Retired Pay
  • Complete an Enrollment Fee Allotment Authorization Letter.
  • Once authorized, your monthly TRICARE Prime enrollment fee will be deducted automatically from your retirement pay.
Electronic Funds Transfer
  • Complete an Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Form.
  • Once authorized, your TRICARE Prime enrollment fee will be deducted automatically from your bank account (checking or savings) each month.
Both the Allotment Authorization Letter and Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Form are available on the Beneficiary Forms page or by calling 1-800-444-5445.


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Do You Really Need That Antibiotic? (Article 5)

Antibiotics are credited with saving millions of lives and revolutionizing medicine.

However, it turns out that bacteria are very good at defending themselves.  When attacked by an antibiotic, the bacteria that survive develop resistance to the drug and are no longer affected by it. This resistant trait is passed on when the bacteria multiply. The result:  more and more antibiotics that no longer work.

As more bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, more bacterial illness, like Legionnaire’s disease are emerging. And some old diseases, like tuberculosis are suddenly making a comeback.

What Can Be Done

We can slow antibiotic resistance and keep existing antibiotics effective by using them correctly.

Here’s how:
 
  • Use antibiotics only to treat conditions caused by bacteria. Bacteria don’t cause head colds and flu—viruses do. And since antibiotics don’t work against viruses, don’t ask your doctor for them if you have a cold or the flu.
     
  • If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, take it for the full number of days and doses. In most cases, you will be asked to finish an entire supply of antibiotics each time one is needed. If you stop taking the drug when you start feeling better, the strongest and most resistant bacteria will survive and multiply. Then, the infection can return, and a different, more potent drug will be needed to treat it. If you do have antibiotics left, never start taking them again without talking to your doctor.
     
  • Avoid using antibacterial soaps and cleaners. Proper washing is sufficient to eliminate bacteria. Scientific evidence is now indicating that these products may make bacterial survivors stronger.

Using antibiotics correctly can help prolong their effectiveness and fight diseases.

Visit the Express-Scripts Web site for more information on your prescription drug benefit or call 1-866-DoD-TRRx.


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Last Reviewed:  December 4, 2007