Fight Off the Flu

View flu vaccine availabilty at your local military clinic.

Flu Season

Cooler temperatures, changing leaves and shorter days aren’t the only hallmarks of the fall season. It’s also time to prepare for flu season.

View flu video – Dr. (Maj) Laura Moore of the 56th Medical Group discusses who is at the highest risk of developing the flu this year and the benefits of getting vaccinated.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the U.S.:

You can help prevent the flu from affecting you and your family this season by getting a vaccination, preferably in October or November, although it can still be beneficial to get vaccinated in December or later. Flu season typically peaks in February, but can begin as early as October and last as late as May.

Flu Vaccine Questions & Answers:

Is the flu shot a TRICARE-covered benefit?

A flu shot is a covered preventive services benefit for all TRICARE Prime, Standard and Extra beneficiaries.

Where can I get a flu shot?

Prime: Consult your primary care manager about getting the vaccination. If you are enrolled at a military treatment facility, contact the facility to find out if and when flu shots are offered. We strongly suggest obtaining a flu shot from a TRICARE network provider. Flu shots received from non-network providers require a prior authorization and are subject to point-of-service charges.

Standard/Extra: You may obtain a flu vaccine from any TRICARE network or non-network provider.

Can I get a flu shot from my neighborhood grocery store or shopping mall?

Flu clinics run by the Public Health department, in grocery stores and in shopping malls for example, may provide good care, but are not set up to file claims.  These services will be paid at point-of-service for Prime beneficiaries. We strongly suggest obtaining a flu shot from a TRICARE network provider.

Is there any cost to me?

Prime: If you obtain a flu vaccine from a TRICARE network provider, you will not incur out-of-pocket costs. Flu shots received from non-network providers require a prior authorization and are subject to point-of-service charges. We strongly recommend using a TRICARE network provider.

Standard/Extra: As a Standard/Extra beneficiary, you have a cost share for flu shots.

Do I need a referral or authorization?

If you get a flu shot from a network provider, you do not need a referral or authorization from your PCM. Flu shots received from non-network providers require a prior authorization and are subject to point-of-service charges for TRICARE Prime beneficiaries.

What is Point-of-Service?

Point-of-service or POS allows TRICARE Prime and Prime Remote beneficiaries to obtain TRICARE-covered non-emergency services from a provider outside of TRICARE’s network without a prior authorization or referral. While this provides flexibility, POS requires that patients pay an annual deductible of $300 for an individual or $600 for a family. Once the deductible is met, the cost-share is 50% of the TRICARE allowable charge.

Who should get a flu shot?

Consult your physician before getting vaccinated, but generally anyone 6 months of age and older who wants to fight off the flu can get vaccinated. The vaccine is strongly recommended for those at high risk, including:

Who should not get a flu shot?

Consult your doctor before getting vaccinated, especially if you:

What is FluMist?

FluMist is a needle-free flu vaccine; it is a gentle mist that is sprayed into the nose.

Is FluMist a TRICARE-covered benefit?

FluMist is a covered benefit for TRICARE Prime, Standard, and Extra beneficiaries aged 2-49 years.

Should anyone avoid getting FluMist?

Adults age 50 and older, pregnant women, children under 24 months of age, children with asthma, and children under the age of 5 years with recurrent wheezing should not get FluMist.

What are symptoms of the flu?

Flu symptoms typically begin very quickly and include:

Most people recover from the flu in 1-2 weeks; however, some people, especially the elderly and young children, can experience serious flu-related complications.

Where can I find more information?

Contact your physician with questions or concerns. For general flu information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site at www.cdc.gov.