Health Care

Comprehensive news and information from Air Force Times about Tricare and health care for troops, veterans and retirees

Open season is here for Tricare, dental and new child care accounts

Here's what you need to know about the open seasons for Tricare, dependent care spending accounts, and dental and vision plans.

2 weeks ago

Here are your new Tricare rates for 2024

Generally, if you paid out of pocket for Tricare this year, you'll be paying more in 2024.

3 weeks ago

Health Care

Some Tricare, dental plans may cost more in 2024. Here’s what to know.

Open season, from Nov. 13 through Dec. 12, is the time to make changes to your Tricare coverage. Some costs may rise this year.

Having trouble making an appointment through Tricare? A fix is coming.

Contract changes won't come for at least another year, but officials are working on the problem now.

7 weeks ago

Dominique Hunter, the Military Breastfeeding Network active duty director, explains doula and breastfeeding options to new moms at a Womack Army Medical Center maternity fair at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, in 2018.

Expectant service members lack support. Doulas could help.

Members of the military who are pregnant lack options when it comes to giving birth. That might be changing, but challenges persist.

2 months ago

Medical care, child care: How shutdown could affect military families

Inpatient care and acute and emergency outpatient care in DoD medical facilities would be immune from a shutdown.

2 months ago

New tool helps military parents with firearm storage, safety issues

'We really need to be focused on access to firearms' by young children.

3 months ago

Rates for Tricare premium plans on the rise again

Increase in rates for Tricare Young Adult Prime is especially stunning, one advocate says.

3 months ago

These genetic tests are now part of Tricare’s covered benefits

These preconception and prenatal screenings can help identify people at risk for having children with certain genetic conditions.

3 months ago

Protest of $65 billion Tricare West health contract goes to court

In light of the continuing legal challenges, the timing of the new Tricare contracts is unclear.

4 months ago

DoD aims for more consistent support for special needs families

The policy aims to standardize the services provided to special needs families, but one advocate says it doesn't go far enough.

5 months ago

More families file claims against Navy for Hawaii water contamination

Another 1,002 people have filed claims seeking monetary damages related to current and future medical care due to the fuel-tainted water.

5 months ago

Health officials reverse decision on pregnant women at Kadena Air Base

'It’s what we were hoping for, that the pregnant mothers would be able to deliver on Okinawa," said one advocate for Kadena families.

6 months ago

Pregnant women at Kadena Air Base in Japan facing tough decisions

A staffing shortage at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa means pregnant women at Kadena Air Base may have to fly home to deliver.

6 months ago

New Tricare dental rates take effect

Increases went into effect May 1.

7 months ago

TriWest Healthcare’s $65 billion contract clears protest hurdle

The timeline for the new Tricare contracts to take effect is August 2024, for now.

7 months ago

DoD pulls back Tricare contract in West Region for ‘corrective action’

It's not known whether the action will affect the timeline for starting the newest iteration of Tricare contracts.

10 months ago

Pentagon awards Tricare contracts worth $136 billion, to start in 2024

TriWest returns as a Tricare contractor, and Humana continues.

11 months ago

About 2,000 independent pharmacies coming back to Tricare

Other pharmacies still have time to rejoin Tricare network, but reimbursement rates are lower in the coming year.

12 months ago