Join us on MOAA's Facebook page here on August 15, at 2:00 p.m. EDT for our live Q&A on TRICARE changes.

MOAA's Facebook Live event will shed light on the NDAA-mandated changes to the TRICARE benefit; a review of the changes and how beneficiaries have been impacted; successes and challenges; how challenges have been and are being addressed and solved; what changes beneficiaries can expect in the future. Emphasis on upcoming Plan and organizational changes such as open enrollment and FEDVIP.

Background: The 2017 National Defense Authorization Act enacted sweeping changes to the Military Health System, which resulted in major reforms to the TRICARE program. Among these reforms was the plan to reduce TRICARE regions from three to two and to simplify health plan options by creating the new TRICARE Select (formerly TRICARE Standard and Extra). The objectives were to save the government money and to decrease administrative hassles for military beneficiaries, who tend to move around frequently between regions. Many of these changes have worked out well, but there also have been challenges. Some of these challenges have been due to the change of TRICARE contractors in both regions Jan. 1, new fee increases, and other changes.

FEDVIP is offered under the FY 2017 NDAA. Retired uniformed service members and their families who are eligible for old TRICARE plans are eligible to enroll in FEDVIP. Open season for FEDVIP runs from Nov. 12 to Dec. 10. TRICARE participants who are enrolled in the Retiree Dental Program must enroll during open season, as the plan does not automatically roll over.

Moderator: Capt. Kathy Beasley, USN (Ret), director of health affairs, MOAA Government Relations, will interview Mr. Patrick Grady, chief of TRICARE Health Plan.

Format: Approximately 45 minutes of an interview-style discussion, followed by 15 minutes of a relaxed, conversational Q&A session via Facebook Live. The interview will take place at the Defense Health Agency.

About us: The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is the nation's largest officers' association with more than 350,000 members from every branch of service, including active duty, retired, National Guard, Reserve, and former officers and their families and survivors. MOAA is a nonprofit and politically nonpartisan organization and an influential force in promoting a strong national defense. MOAA represents the interests of servicemembers and their families in every stage of their lives and careers.