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TRICARE open season to begin Nov. 11, 2019

  • Published
  • By Capt. David Ellison
  • 6th Medical Support Squadron

If you would like to make changes to your or a family member’s TRICARE health plan for 2020, your opportunity is fast approaching with this fall’s TRICARE Open Season.

Open season is an annual month-long period when you can enroll in or change your health care coverage plan for the next year.  It occurs every year from the Monday of the second full week in November to the Monday of the second full week in December.  Any enrollment choices you make during this time will take effect on Jan. 1.

This year, TRICARE open season takes place Nov. 11 to Dec. 9, 2019.  During TRICARE Open Season, you can enroll in or change your TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select health plan.  If you remain eligible for TRICARE coverage and make no changes during open season, then you will keep the same plan for 2020.  In addition, you may also change your type of enrollment during this time, such as switching from individual to family coverage. 

If you are enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select, there is one other way you and your family can change your health plan outside of Open Season.  This occurs if you or a family member experience a Qualifying Life Event. A QLE is a change in your life, such as marriage, birth of a child, or retirement from active duty, which could mean that different TRICARE health plans are available to you.  A QLE opens a 90-day period for you to make enrollment changes, and a QLE for one family member means that all family members can make enrollment changes.  Depending on your eligibility, a QLE might enable you and your family to enroll in a new TRICARE health plan; or, change your health plan coverage.  For more information, visit www.tricare.mil/lifeevents.    

During TRICARE Open Season or in the 90 days following a QLE, you have three methods to make an enrollment decision:

1. Online:  Go to the milConnect website and click on the “Benefits” tab, and then click on “Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE)”.

2. Phone:  Call Humana Military, the TRICARE East Region contractor, at 1-800-444-5445. 

3. Mail:  You can also mail your completed East Region enrollment form available on www.tricare.mil/FormsClaims/Forms/Enrollment to:

Humana Military

Attn: PNC Bank

PO Box 105838

Atlanta, GA 30348-5838

TRICARE Open Season does not apply to the following premium based plans, which offer continuous open enrollment throughout the year:

  • TRICARE Retired Reserve
  • TRICARE Reserve Select
  • TRICARE Young Adult
  • Continued Health Care Benefit Program

Furthermore, TRICARE Open Season does not apply to TRICARE for Life, since that coverage does not require enrollment. 

You can sign up for email alerts about Open Season and stay-up-date by visiting www.tricare.mil/openseason