Changes are coming to TRICARE Published Oct. 11, 2017 By Staff Reports 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Changes are coming to TRICARE benefits beginning January 1, 2018. These changes provide more benefit choices, improve access to care, simplify cost shares and allow members to take command of their health. “Taking command of your health means empowering you to make the right health care and coverage choices for you and your family,” said Lt. Col. Joshua Hartman, 22nd Medical Group chief of medical staff. “Leading up to January 1, 2018, we will connect you with TRICARE resources to navigate your benefit questions.”The best way to prepare now is to update information in DEERS, visit the TRICARE changes website to sign up for email or text updates and see upcoming changes to your TRICARE plans.Here are the changes to know about:Region ConsolidationCurrently, there are three TRICARE regions in the U.S.: North, South and West. The North and South regions will combine to form TRICARE East January 1, while TRICARE West will remain mostly unchanged. Two new contractors, Humana Military and Health Net Federal Services, will cover these regions. Health Net Federal Services will be the contractor for McConnell. This change will allow better coordination between military hospitals and clinics and civilian health care providers in each region.TRICARE Select TRICARE Select will replace TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra both stateside and overseas January 1. TRICARE Select will be a self-managed, preferred-provider network option and patients will have co-pays and deductibles. Patients will not be required to have a primary care manager and can therefore visit any TRICARE-authorized provider for services covered by TRICARE without a referral. TRICARE Select adopts a number of improvements, including additional preventive care services previously offered only to TRICARE Prime beneficiaries. TRICARE PrimeTRICARE Prime is a managed-care program option. An assigned primary care manager provides most of the patient’s care. When specialty care is needed, PCMs will refer members to a specialist. Active-duty service members and their family members do not pay anything when referred to a network provider by their PCM. All others pay annual enrollment fees and network copayments. EnrollmentAll current TRICARE beneficiaries will be automatically enrolled into plans January 1, as long as they are eligible. TRICARE Prime enrollees will remain in TRICARE Prime. TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra beneficiaries will be enrolled in TRICARE Select. From January 1 until November 5 beneficiaries can choose to enroll in or change coverage plans. In fall 2018, TRICARE will introduce an annual open enrollment period. During this period, beneficiaries will choose whether to continue or change coverage for the following year. Take Action NowTo prepare for the upcoming changes sign up for a DS Logon at https://myaccess.dmdc.osd.mil Stay informed with the latest informationIn the coming months, more information will be available at www.tricare.mil/changes. To stay informed, sign up for email or text messages alerts through eCorrespondence in milConnect or on the Tricare changes website.