By Rodney Jackson, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Public Affairs
FORT CAVAZOS, Texas – TRICARE beneficiaries who live in the West Region, now have until Feb. 28 to set-up payment with the new West Region contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance.
Beneficiaries who pay for TRICARE coverage using a bank electronic funds transfer, credit card, or debit card, must change their recurring payment information to TriWest prior to the new deadline, and those who don’t act by these dates will be disenrolled, retroactive to Jan. 1.
The Feb. 28 payment deadline has been extended for those enrolled in a TRICARE premium-based plan (TRICARE Young Adult, TRICARE Reserve Select, or TRICARE Retired Reserve) and TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select.
The latest deadline extension comes as a number of beneficiaries and health care providers have reported difficulty with the TriWest online portal, including long wait times to reach TriWest’s call center.
TriWest is bringing on additional staff to reduce wait time and ensure TRICARE beneficiaries get their questions answered or can transfer payment information to maintain health care coverage.
Many beneficiaries have active referrals in the West Region that have not yet been authorized by TriWest. All active referrals and pre-authorizations from the previous contractors (Health Net Federal Services or Humana) that were issued before Jan. 1, 2025, will be honored by TriWest and will be valid through their expiration or June 30, 2025, whichever comes first. The TRICARE Health Plan team is working directly with TriWest to actively process all existing referrals. You can check your referral status or get assistance by visiting the TriWest online or calling 888-874-9378.
How to set up your payments
The easiest and fastest way to set up your payments with TriWest is through their secure portal.
- Visit the TriWest portal.
- Select the “New User? Sign Up Now” option.
- You’ll be asked to input your email address. A verification code will be sent to you.
- Check your email for the verification code. Then, enter it to continue. Please ensure you enter the correct Benefits Number when asked. Enter your Benefits Number without dashes. (You can obtain your 11-digit Benefits Number from the back of your Uniformed Services ID card. See Showing Your ID to Providers to locate your Benefits Number on your ID card. It provides a picture graph of ID and CAC cards showing your Benefits Number, which is different than your DOD ID number.)
- Complete the information requested (name, address, etc.) in the secure forms.
- Select your payment method.
- Complete all fields.
- Submit.
You can also download an Automatic Monthly TRICARE Payment Set Up Request form, located on www.tricare.mil/west. Complete the form and mail it to the address on page 2. This form is for recurring monthly payments.
If you run into any issues with these options, you can call TriWest customer service at 888-TRIWEST (874-9378) and provide your payment information over the phone. Call volume is heavy now, so please be patient.
Act now to ensure you and your family maintain your coverage for 2025.
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