Prime Holiday: Travel with TRICARE

Travel

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 you leave home.

  1. Ensure your DEERS records are up-to-date
    Update your family’s information in DEERS by:
    • Calling 1-800-538-9552
    • Visiting an ID card issuing facility
    • 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
  2. Understand your urgent care guidelines
    Urgent care procedures vary by location. Contact your local military treatment facility (base doctor) or TRICARE Service Center before you receive care to learn how to best access urgent care away from home and avoid out-of-pocket costs. When in doubt of your urgent care procedures, contact TriWest at 1-888-TRIWEST (874-9378).

    In case of emergencies
    If you experience an emergency while traveling, seek emergency care at the nearest hospital immediately. Emergency care does not require prior authorization before treatment. However, be sure to notify your primary care manager and TriWest within 24 hours or by the next business day of any emergency inpatient admission.
  3. 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 (TMOP): Using TMOP, you can have up to a 90-day supply of medication delivered to your doorstep. Contact the plan administrator Express Scripts at 1-866-DoD-TMOP (363-8667) for details.
    • TRICARE Retail Pharmacy (TRRx): Contact Express Scripts at www.express-scripts.com/tricare or 1-866-DoD-TRRx (363-8779) to find a TRICARE retail pharmacy where you will be traveling.
  4. Pack TRICARE Prime cards, ID cards and a copy of the Traveling with TRICARE brochure for reference. Download the brochure from the beneficiary portal at www.triwest.com.