TRICARE moves with you

  • Published
  • By Kristen Ward
  • TriWest Healthcare Alliance
TRIWEST --  If you're planning to or have recently moved to another duty station, you not only have a new community, but you may have a new regional TRICARE contractor managing your healthcare benefits. 

Rest assured though: no matter what TRICARE program you're using, your benefits are portable. 

Below is a to-do list before and when you arrive at your new home: 

1. Get routine care prior to your move since routine care isn't covered on the road if you're enrolled in TRICARE Prime.

2. Update your address, e-mail and phone numbers in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) within 30 days of moving. You can do this in the following ways:
· Visit the local identification card office in person. Contact the office first to verify location and business hours.
· Call the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Support Office
at 1-800-538-9552. (TTY/TDD for the deaf: 1-866-363-2883)
· Fax: 831-655-8317
· Mail:
Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office
Attn: COA
400 Gigling Road
Seaside, CA 93955-6771
· Log onto TRICARE's Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) site at www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/bwe/ .

Transfer your enrollment and request a new primary care manager (PCM) by completing a "TRICARE Prime Enrollment Application and PCM Change Form (DD Form 2876)" form for yourself and each family member. This form is found at www.triwest.com>Beneficiaries>Find A Form or you can use the BWE Web site. 

If moving to a TRICARE Prime Remote location, switch your enrollment by submitting a new "DD Form 2876". The enrollment transfer takes effect for your family after your new regional contractor receives the form. 

TRICARE Prime enrollments are portable for both active duty and retired families. Retirees can transfer enrollments twice in a year; the second move has to be back to the original region.

Please note that before you move, you do not need to disenroll from TRICARE Prime or Prime remote. If you voluntarily move to a non-Prime area, you may be locked out of Prime coverage for up to a year. 

Prime-enrolled retirees who pay their enrollment fees by allotment, electronic funds transfer (EFT) or recurring credit card payments should contact their new regional contractor to ensure that those payments are transferred to that new contractor. TriWest, the west region contractor, can be reached at 1-888-TRIWEST (874-9378).

If you are visiting www.triwest.com, don't forget to register and sign up for QuickAlert, TriWest's automated authorization and referral status notification system for beneficiaries living in TRICARE's west region. QuickAlert e-mails you a notice that your request has been processed and provides a link for you to view the result online.