TRICARE beneficiaries in the West Region will have more time to set up payment plans and to access specialty care without a contractor-approved referral, according to a March 27 press release.

The payment setup had been set to expire March 31, as had the referral waiver. Beneficiaries now have until April 30 in both instances. Learn more about the changes below (Note: TRICARE For Life, US Family Health Plan, and TRICARE overseas plan users, as well as those in the East Region, are not affected.)

[FROM TRICARE.MIL: How TRICARE Regions Are Changing in 2025]

Payment Plan

• What: Beneficiaries must make a payment to TriWest by April 30 or they will be disenrolled from TRICARE dating back to Jan. 1.
  
  
• Who: Those who pay by allotment or who have already established a payment plan with TriWest should check to ensure their payments are being processed. Those who have not established a payment plan can do so via the TriWest web portal or by completing and submitting this form.
  
  
• Questions: TriWest beneficiaries can contact TriWest customer service at 888-TRIWEST (888-874-9378) for answers to their questions or to provide payment information over the phone.

Referrals and Waivers

• What: Beneficiaries who receive a referral for specialty care from a primary care provider do not have to wait for TriWest approval to see the specialist. This policy will remain in place until April 30. Waivers do not apply to inpatient care, lab tests, applied behavior analysis or Autism Care Demonstration services, or services under the Extended Health Care Option (ECHO). The specialist must be TRICARE-authorized.
  
  
• What Else: TRICARE Prime users seeing a provider who is no longer in the TRICARE network – but is a TRICARE-authorized provider – may continue to see that provider and pay regular TRICARE Prime copayments instead of higher point-of-service fees. This fee waiver also expires April 30.
  
  
• Questions: Unsure whether your provider is authorized, or whether they are in or out of the TRICARE network? Learn more about how providers are classified at this link, and check out the TriWest provider directory. Contact TriWest customer service (888-TRIWEST) for further information.