1. Take Command Thank you for having me with you today.
This brief provides an overview of upcoming TRICARE changes that affect your medical benefits.

2. Today’s Agenda (2)
TRICARE is our health care program for uniformed service members and their families around the world.
The vision is for TRICARE to be a world-class health care system that supports the military mission by fostering, protecting, sustaining and restoring health.
The Defense Health Agency, or DHA, is modernizing the Military Health System to better serve our 9.4 million beneficiaries worldwide and respond to changes in law and policy.
On Jan. 1, 2018, there will be several changes to your TRICARE benefit. As a TRICARE beneficiary, you can expect a modernized and easier to understand plan with:
More benefit choices
Improved access to care
Simplified cost-shares, and more
This brief outlines a few of the changes you will notice to your TRICARE benefit in Today we will talk through:
Moving to TRICARE Overseas Program Select
Enrollment changes
Health plan costs
Prepare today
Take command of your health care:
TRICARE is changing: Changes are coming to TRICARE beginning Jan. 1, 2018.
This is your benefit: We want to you to be aware of the changes to your TRICARE benefit and connect you to resources to navigate your benefit.
Are you ready?: We will help you know when and how to take action to prepare for the upcoming changes.

3. Today’s Agenda (3)

4. Moving to TRICARE Overseas Program Select
Starting Jan. 1, 2018, TRICARE Overseas Program, or TOP, Select replaces the TOP Standard health plan, and acts as a preferred provider organization, or PPO, style plan.
Most provisions will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2018, with full implementation occurring on Jan. 1, 2019.
Those currently eligible for TOP Standard will be converted to the new plan, TOP Select, on Jan. 1, They will remain enrolled in the plan unless they choose to change their coverage.
Once registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS, new active duty family members are automatically enrolled in TOP Select.
Eligible command-sponsored active duty family members have up to 90 days to change their enrollment to TOP Prime or TOP Prime Remote.
Beneficiaries who change to TOP Select will not have a decrease in coverage.
The TRICARE Young Adult, or TYA, plan will continue as is with comparable copayments to TOP Select.

5. TOP Select
Contact your TOP Regional Call Center (International SOS) to confirm which services overseas require prior authorization.

6. Getting Care in the Philippines
Beginning Jan. 1, 2018, a preferred-provider network will be available in the Philippines.
If you live or travel in the Philippines, you are required to see a certified provider for care. Additionally, TOP Select beneficiaries who reside in the Philippines and who seek care within designated Philippine locations are encouraged to see a TRICARE-preferred provider.
Under TOP Select, you may receive care from any host nation provider without a referral.
Out-of-pocket costs are lower when using a preferred provider.
For more information and to find a provider in the Philippines, visit or

7. Today’s Agenda (7)

8. Enrolling in TOP Select

9. Overseas Automatic Enrollment
All newborn and adopted children must be registered in DEERS within 120 days.
Newborns and adopted children of active duty service members are automatically enrolled in TOP Select when a sponsor registers them in DEERS.
You can only enroll your child in a TOP Prime option if you are a command-sponsored active duty family member.
Retirees must take action to enroll their child in a TRICARE plan within 120 days of birth.
If your child is not registered in DEERS within 120 days of birth or adoption, on day 121 their claims will be denied because the newborn doesn’t show as TRICARE eligible. Also, your child will only be eligible to receive care at a military hospital or clinic on a space-available basis.

10. Today’s Agenda (10)

11. Health Plan Costs (2018)
Starting on Jan. 1, 2018, costs for TRICARE benefits will be charged by calendar year (January – December) instead of fiscal year (October – September).
You will fall into one of two groups based on the date when you or your sponsor entered the military.
Each group will have different enrollment fees and out-of-pocket costs: 
Group A: If your or your sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment occurred before Jan. 1, 2018, you are in Group A.
Group B: If your or your sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment occurs on or after Jan. 1, 2018, you are in Group B.
Effective Jan. 1, 2018, enrollees in TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve, TRICARE Young Adult, and Continued Health Care Benefit Program have Group B cost-shares, regardless of when the sponsor first joined the military.
You may need to pay an enrollment fee, depending on your plan and when you became eligible for TRICARE.
Some costs will change annually starting on Jan. 1, 2018.

12. Costs: Active Duty Family Members
If you’re an active duty family member using a TRICARE Prime plan or TRICARE Select plan:
You won’t pay an annual enrollment fee, but you may have to pay cost-shares when you get care outside of the military hospital or clinic.
Regardless of health plan, your family catastrophic cap will be $1,000 each year.
If you use TRICARE Select, you will also have individual and family deductibles.
If you’re in TRICARE Prime and choose to get specialty care without referral or authorization, that is our point-of-service, or POS, option. With POS, you will have to pay the deductible and 50 percent of the cost for your TRICARE covered treatment. Any deductibles or cost-shares for POS don’t count toward your catastrophic cap.
TRICARE costs are subject to change. Special conditions for differing costs may exist.
Go to for the most up-to-date cost information. Additional TRICARE costs are available online.

13. Costs: Active Duty Family Members (2)
TRICARE Select out-of-network cost-shares for outpatient care are 20 percent of the allowed charges.
TRICARE costs are subject to change. Special conditions for differing costs may exist.
Go to for the most up-to-date cost information. Additional TRICARE costs are available online.

14. Costs: Retirees, Family + Other Users
If you’re a retired service member, retiree family member or using any of the premium-based plans:
You may pay an enrollment fee depending on your group and your plan.
You may also have deductibles, copays and cost-shares.
Regardless of health plan, you will be protected by a catastrophic cap.
If you’re in TRICARE Prime and choose to get specialty care without referral or authorization, that is our point-of-service, or POS, option. With POS, you will have to pay the deductible and 50 percent of the cost for your TRICARE covered treatment. Any deductibles or cost-shares for POS don’t count toward your catastrophic cap.
Premium-based plans include:
TRICARE Young Adult (TYA)
TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR)
TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)
Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP)
If you have a premium-based plan, you will continue to see your yearly premiums adjusted each year on Jan. 1 the way they have been in the past. These yearly adjustments are required by law, and will be calculated the same way they are today.
Costs won’t change for TRICARE For Life, or TFL. Also, there are no changes in TFL eligibility, benefits, or the requirement to have Medicare Part A and B. 
TRICARE costs are subject to change. Special conditions for differing costs may exist.
Go to for the most up-to-date cost information. Additional TRICARE costs are available online.

15. Costs: Retirees, Family + Other Users (2)
TRICARE Select out-of-network cost-shares for outpatient care are 25 percent of the allowed charges.
TRICARE costs are subject to change. Special conditions for differing costs may exist.
Go to for the most up-to-date cost information. Additional TRICARE costs are available online.

16. Today’s Agenda (16)

17. Prepare Today!
To have more control over your health care, prepare for the upcoming changes to TRICARE by taking the following actions:
Update your contact information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS, for you and your family.
Go to
Call (TTY/TDD: ).
Fax updates to
Sign up for eCorrespondence in milConnect to get notifications.
Log in to and update your profile.
Visit the TRICARE website.
Go to
Sign up for alerts about the changes at the link available at You will get an anytime this page is updated.