Better access to care, affordable and high-quality care, and more health care choices are the major benefits of the Defense Department's new TriCare program. All 12 regions covering the continental United States and Hawaii will have the program by May 1997, Anderson said. The surgeon general explained that although there are fewer active-duty members because of the drawdown, additional appointments have not opened up because the number of people eligible for care has not declined much. Under TriCare, contract medical care providers will also fill the void for people who no longer have access to military facilities because of base closure and realignment action. TriCare Prime is a health maintenance organization that allows beneficiaries to receive care at a military facility or from an approved network of civilian providers.
Enrollment is free for both servicemembers and their family members.
Civilian providers also will fill out all claim forms for patients. Medical officials are still working details such as enrollment locations and enrollment periods. The patient also had to make all the arrangements. TriCare Prime may not be the right program for everyone, Luby said. Some people may already have a favorite civilian provider they want to continue with, or may not have access to a military facility because of base closures.