Deployments and Your TRICARE Benefits

The weeks and months leading up to a loved one’s deployment can be one of the most stressful times a family will ever face. To help make the days both before and during a deployment easier, here are some things every family should know about their TRICARE benefits.

Q.	I am deploying and my family is returning to my spouse’s hometown. How will they receive health care?
A.	If your spouse’s hometown is in a TRICARE Prime Service Area in the TRICARE South Region, continuing your family’s TRICARE Prime coverage is simple. You must change your family’s primary care manager (PCM) and update your family’s personal information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) using one of two methods: Visit the TRICARE Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) Site to make changes; or Submit a DD Form 2876, TRICARE Prime Enrollment Application and PCM Change Form to Humana Military Healthcare Services, Inc. (Humana Military). A common mistake you and your family could make is not changing your PCM upon moving and receiving health care in the new location without a referral, which will result in higher point of service (POS) costs. It is very important that you select a new PCM who can provide and coordinate your health care in the new location. Until this is done, you need to coordinate your family’s health care with your previous PCM to avoid POS costs. If the hometown is in a different TRICARE Region, i.e., North or West, but still in a TRICARE Prime Service Area, the above two methods can be used to update your family’s enrollment. If a TRICARE Prime Enrollment Application and PCM Change Form is used, be sure to submit it to the new regional contractor after arriving in the new location. Do not transfer enrollment before moving and family members must continue to coordinate care with your family’s previous PCM until the PCM changes are made. The new PCM change will take effect on the day it is received by the new regional contractor. For a list of areas covered by each region, as well as regional contractor information, visit TRICARE's Web Site. If you’re not sure which region covers your family’s new location, contact Humana Military at 1-800-444-5445. If your family will be living in a non-TRICARE Prime Service Area, your family will need to disenroll from TRICARE Prime after arriving at the new location. Your family can disenroll by submitting a TRICARE Prime Disenrollment Application form to Humana Military. Once your family is disenrolled from TRICARE Prime, your family’s coverage will switch to TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra.
Q.	How can I have my family’s medical records transferred into this area?
A.	You can discuss the best way to transfer your family’s medical records to the new area once you inform your family’s PCM of the move. Sometimes PCMs can forward records to a new PCM, but in some cases, your family’s medical records may have to be hand-carried to the new destination. Both of these options require that you fill out and submit an Authorization to Disclose Information form (also called Authorization for Release of Information) to your PCM. This form allows you to list anyone you would like to have access to your medical records.
Q.	If my spouse or other family member needs access to my claims, enrollment or referral and authorization information from Humana Military while I’m deployed, what can I do?
A.	If you would like someone else—such as a spouse or another family member—to have access to your information, you will need to submit an Authorization to Disclose Information form to Humana Military. Instructions are included on the form.