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Prime Holiday: Travel with TRICARE

  • Published
  • TriWest Healthcare Alliance
FALLS CHURCH, Va. --  The holiday season is here, which means travel time for many TRICARE beneficiaries. Among the hustle and bustle of making family plans, buying gifts and packing bags, be sure to review these TRICARE travel tips before leaving home.

Ensure the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System records are up-to-date, in case you need care on the road.

Update your family's information in DEERS by:

- Calling 1-800-538-9552
- Visiting an identification card issuing facility (find a facility at www.dmdc.osd.mil)
- Faxing changes to 1-831-655-8317
- Mailing changes to:
Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office
Attn: COA
400 Gigling Road
Seaside, CA 93955-6771

Get prescriptions filled before your trip

TRICARE's pharmacy options are available to you anywhere in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

- Military Treatment Facility Pharmacies: Find one near you at www.tricare.mil/mtf.
- TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy: Using TMOP, you can have up to a 90-day supply of medication delivered to your doorstep. Contact the plan administrator Express Scripts, Inc. at 1-866-363-8667 or visit www.tricare.mil/pharmacy for details. Enroll in the TMOP program by calling the Member Choice Center at 1-877-363-1433.
- TRICARE Retail Pharmacy: Contact Express Scripts, Inc. at www.tricare.mil/pharmacy or 1-866-363-8779 to find a TRICARE retail pharmacy where you will be traveling.

Pack TRICARE Prime cards, military or uniformed services ID cards and important contact information

Understand the emergency and urgent care guidelines

- Urgent care procedures vary by location.
- Contact the local military treatment facility (base doctor) or TRICARE Service Center before receiving care to learn how to avoid out-of-pocket costs
- Contact TriWest at 1-888-TRIWEST.

If you experience an emergency while traveling, emergency care does not require prior authorization before treatment, so:

- Seek emergency care at the nearest hospital immediately
- TRICARE Prime beneficiaries have to notify your primary care manager and TriWest within 24 hours or by the next business day of any emergency inpatient admission to avoid out-of-pocket costs