The Defense Health Agency (DHA) has extended the payment deadline for individuals enrolled in TRICARE premium-based plans to Friday February 28. These plans include TRICARE Young Adult, TRICARE Reserve Select, and TRICARE Retired Reserve. Members enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select, are also allotted this deadline extension to pay fees.
Please note that if action is not taken before this deadline, members will be disenrolled, with the disenrollment effective retroactively to January 1.
How to set up payment
The quickest and most straightforward way to set up your payments with TriWest is through their secure portal at https://tricare-bene.triwest.com/signin.
- Visit the TriWest portal.
- Select the “New User? Sign Up Now” option. You will be asked to input your email address, and a verification code will be sent.
- Check your email for the verification code. Then, you can just 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.
- Complete the information requested (name, address, etc.) in the secure forms.
- Select your payment method.
- Complete all fields.
- Submit.
If you have any issues with this process, call TriWest customer service at 888-TRIWEST (874-9378) to give your payment information over the phone. More details of the extended deadline can be found here.
Pre-authorization referral waivers
In addition to the deadline extension, DHA has now waived the requirement for pre-authorization of referrals to outpatient specialty care for TRICARE Prime enrollees in the West region. This means that TRICARE-authorized specialty care providers can now offer outpatient care without waiting for TriWest to approve the referrals from your Primary Care Manager (PCM). However, you must still obtain a referral from your PCM before receiving that specialty care. This process is effective through March 31 and is retroactive to January 1, 2025.
This waiver does not apply to the following services:
- Inpatient care
- Applied behavior analysis or Autism Care Demonstration services
- Laboratory-developed tests
- Extended Care Health Option services
If you require any of the four services listed above, TriWest must pre-authorize your referral before you see a specialist.
More information on the waivers can be found here.
If you have questions about TRICARE referral waivers or the payment extension deadline, please contact LCDR Katharine Adams at katharine.f.adams2.mil@health.mil.
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