Tricare Military Health System (MHS) Nurse Advice line in the United States is 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273), option 1. It is available 24/7 by phone, web chat, and video chat. Tricare is a healthcare program for uniformed service members, retirees, and their families worldwide. It provides comprehensive coverage to all beneficiaries, including health plans, special programs, prescriptions, and dental plans. Most of their health plans meet the requirements for minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The Defense Health Agency manages it under the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) leadership.
Their mission is to enhance the Department of Defense and the nation’s security by providing health support for the full range of military operations and sustaining the health of all those entrusted to our care. The company’s vision is to be a world-class healthcare system that supports the military mission by fostering, protecting, sustaining, and restoring health.
Tricare is the uniformed services health care program for active duty service members (ADSMs), active duty family members (ADFMs), National Guard and Reserve members and their family members, retirees, and retirees members, survivors, and certain former spouses worldwide. It brings together the healthcare resources of the Military Health System, such as military hospitals and clinics, with a network of civilian healthcare professionals, institutions, pharmacies, and suppliers to foster, protect, sustain, and restore health for those entrusted to their care. The benefits and plans vary depending on the beneficiary category.
The Military Health System is a global, comprehensive, integrated system. Individuals may be able to get care from a military hospital or clinic, a civilian network of providers, or Tricare-authorized non-network providers since the Department of Defense operates many military hospitals and clinics, the members may be able to seek care there, depending on where they are, what plan they have and beneficiary category. Depending on their region, they can also seek care from a civilian network of Tricare-authorized providers.
Tricare offers several different health plans, but the availability depends on the person’s identification and location. The plan information is on their website and accessible to everyone interested. If the member has health insurance besides Tricare, it is called “other health insurance.” It can be through the employer or a private insurance program. By law, Tricare pays after all other health insurance, but there are exceptions to services that they will pay. There are 9.6 million beneficiaries, 49 military hospitals, 465 military medical clinics, and 192 dental facilities. Tricare has additional programs and resources that members can use to get help depending on what’s right for them.
Tricare covers treatments, procedures, drugs, or devices that are medically necessary and considered proven. It is considered medically necessary and considered confirmed if it isn’t experimental, it won’t hurt the members, and it’s approved by the regulatory agencies and if it works. Tricare doesn’t cover unproven or experimental benefits expressly excluded by statutes, regulations, or policy. Certain rare conditions may make it hard to know if treatment is proven safe and effective. In these cases, the process for becoming a benefit may be different.
Tricare also offers Special Programs for specific health conditions, populations, or concerns. To avail of the special programs, A member must have specific eligibility requirements based on their plan, beneficiary category, or status. It is for the specific beneficiary populations, while others offer services for specific health conditions. The program is limited to a certain number of participants or an exact geographic location. Another program that Tricare offers is the Tricare Plus. It is a primary care program offered at some military hospitals and clinics. The hospital or clinic leader decides if it is available, and the member needs to enroll to participate. The enrollment is only for the hospital or clinic the member registered.