R 291630Z NOV 04 
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL MARADMIN(uc)
MARADMIN
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
MARADMIN 519/04
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MR//
SUBJ/TRICARE TRANSITION COMPLETE//
REF/A/MARADMIN 621/02/-//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN ON TRICARE ONLINE//
POC/JESSICA BRADLEY/MAJ/MRH/TEL:DSN 278-9522
/EMAIL:JESSICA.BRADLEY@USMC.MIL/-//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  1 NOVEMBER 2004 MARKED THE COMPLETION OF
TRICARE'S CONVERSION TO THE THREE NEW CONUS REGIONS AND CONTRACTORS.
2.  TRICARE BENEFITS REMAIN UNCHANGED UNDER THE THREE NEW CONTRACTORS
AND MILITARY MEDICAL FACILITIES IN ALL REGIONS REMAIN THE CORE OF
THE MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM.
3.  SOME TIPS FOR ACCESSING TRICARE INFORMATION INCLUDE CONDUCTING
BUSINESS ONLINE WHENEVER POSSIBLE AS PER THE REFERENCE, CALLING
DURING NON-PEAK HOURS, AND VISITING TRICARE SERVICE CENTERS FOR
FACE-TO-FACE ASSISTANCE AND COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
PROGRAM.  BENEFICIARIES MAY ALSO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL TRICARE
INFORMATION ON THE TRICARE WEBSITE AT WWW.TRICARE.OSD.MIL.
BENEFICIARIES MAY ENROLL OR CHANGE ENROLLMENT INFORMATION ONLINE,
SEARCH FOR PROVIDERS IN THEIR LOCAL AREA, AND FIND A WEALTH OF
INFORMATION ON THE HEALTH PLAN AS WELL AS LINKS TO OTHER KEY SITES
FOR INFORMATION ON CLAIMS PROCESSING AND ONLINE APPOINTMENTS.
4.  THE THREE CONUS REGIONAL CONTRACTOR WEBSITES AND TELEPHONE
NUMBERS ARE:
A.  TRICARE NORTH - WWW.HEALTHNETFEDERALSERVICES.COM OR CALL
1-877-TRICARE (1-877-874-2273).
B.  TRICARE SOUTH - WWW.HUMANA-MILITARY.COM OR CALL 1-800-444-5445.
C.  TRICARE WEST - WWW.TRIWEST.COM OR CALL 1-888-TRIWEST
(1-800-874-9378).
5.  IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR BENEFICIARIES TO KEEP THEIR DEFENSE
ENROLLMENT AND ELIGIBILITY REPORTING SYSTEM (DEERS) INFORMATION
UPDATED.  FAILURE TO KEEP THIS INFORMATION CURRENT MAY RESULT IN
FUTURE PROVIDER AND PHARMACY SERVICE DENIALS OF CARE, RETURNED
TRICARE HEALTH CARE CLAIMS, AND UNDELIVERED UPDATES ABOUT THE
TRANSITION.  TO UPDATE PERSONAL INFORMATION IN DEERS, BENEFICIARIES
MAY:
A.  VISIT A LOCAL UNIFORMED SERVICE PERSONNEL OFFICE OR VISIT A
MILITARY IDENTIFICATION CARD ISSUING FACILITY.
B.  VISIT WWW.TRICARE.OSD.MIL/DEERSADDRESS TO UPDATE ADDRESS
INFORMATION.
C.  FAX ADDRESS CHANGES TO DEERS AT 1-831-655-8317.
D.  MAIL THE ADDRESS CHANGE TO THE DEFENSE MANPOWER DATA CENTER
SUPPORT OFFICE, ATTN: COA, 400 GIGLING ROAD, SEASIDE, CA 93955-6771.
6.  FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT THE NEAREST BENEFICIARY
COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR (BCAC).  A BCAC DIRECTORY IS
AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.TRICARE.OSD.MIL/BCACDIRECTORY.HTM.
BENEFICIARIES ALSO MAY CONTACT A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT
THE NEAREST TRICARE SERVICE CENTER. //