A TRICARE explanation of benefits (EOB) is not a bill. It is an itemized statement that shows what action TRICARE has taken on your claims. An EOB is for your information and files.
After reviewing the EOB, you have the right to appeal certain decisions regarding your claims and must do so in writing within 90 days of the date of the EOB notice. (For more information about appeals, see the Information and Assistance section.) You should keep EOBs with your health insurance records for reference.
View a sample of the EOB in the south region along with instructions for reading the EOB.
Debt Collection Assistance Officers (DCAOs) are located at MTFs and at TRICARE Regional Offices (TRO) to assist you in resolving health care collection-related issues. Contact a DCAO if you have received a negative credit rating or have been sent to a collection agency due to an issue related to TRICARE services.
When you visit a DCAO for assistance, you must bring or submit documentation associated with a collection action or adverse credit rating, including debt collection letters, EOB statements, and medical/dental bills from providers. The more information you can provide, the faster the DCAO will be able to determine the cause of the problem. The DCAO will research your claim, provide you with a written resolution of your collection problem, and inform the collection agency that action is being taken to resolve the issue. DCAOs cannot provide legal advice or repair your credit rating, but they can help you through the debt collection process by providing documentation for the collection or credit-reporting agency to explain the circumstances relating to the debt. To find a DCAO near you, visit the DCAO Directory online.
