The Defense Health Agency (DHA) has announced contract awards for T-5, the next generation of TRICARE managed care support contracts. Humana Government Business will retain the East Region while the West Region will transition to TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corporation.

Health care delivery under the new contract is expected to start in 2024. Throughout 2023, Humana Military will continue to manage the East region and HealthNet Federal Services will manage the West. The new contracts do not change the TRICARE benefit and offer all the same TRICARE plan options.

This change does not impact TRICARE For Life (TFL) beneficiaries, as TFL is administered under a separate contract.

Most East Region beneficiaries will avoid transition disruptions with Humana continuing as the East Region contractor. West Region beneficiaries may remember TriWest, which held TRICARE contracts in the western U.S. for 17 years, from 1996-2013.

[RELATED: MOAA's 2022-2023 TRICARE Guide]

As part of the T-5 transition, approximately 1.5 million beneficiaries in six states – Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin – will move from the East to the West Region.

“Moving these six states into the West Region will create a more even balance to the TRICARE population each regional contractor manages,” according to an article from TRICARE Communications.

Beneficiaries in the six states moving to the West Region will hear from the TRICARE regional contractors throughout the transition period next year.

Be sure to keep your Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) information up to date to make sure you receive messages from TRICARE. You can also sign up for email alerts from TRICARE.

As part of Military Health System reforms, Congress directed significant changes to the TRICARE program, including the managed care support contractor construct. MOAA has urged Congressional oversight of T-5 to minimize transition disruptions, shield beneficiaries from higher TRICARE costs, maintain robust provider networks, and improve access to mental health care. As implementation moves ahead, we will continue to work with Congress, DHA, Humana, and TriWest to ensure T-5 meets the needs of beneficiaries.