Health Care

TRICARE Overview

TRICARE is the Department of Defense’s worldwide health care program, covering 9.5 million beneficiaries—including active duty, Guard/Reserve, retirees, family members, and survivors—registered in DEERS. In Hawaiʻi, network access and referrals may differ from the mainland, so confirm local details before seeking off-base care and keep DEERS info current to avoid coverage issues.

Learn More:

● Website: Tricare.mil

● Newsroom: Newsroom.Tricare.mil

● Coverage: Tricare.mil/IsItCovered

● Plans: Tricare.mil/Plans

● Pharmacy: Tricare.mil/Pharmacy

● Dental: Tricare.mil/Dental

T-5 Updates

New T-5 regional contracts improve access, referrals, and care coordination.

Check your provider – Confirm in-network status at Tricare.mil/west or call TriWest at 888-TRIWEST (874-9378).
Update DEERS – Tricare.mil/DEERS
Stay informed – Read T-5 FAQs and subscribe to email updates.
Contact your base TRICARE office for Hawaii-specific help.

Compare plans – Use the online plan comparison tool if considering changes.

Key Benefits Under T-5:

● Easier referral transfers between regions

● Improved access to specialized and telehealth care

● Virtual tools for better provider selection

Hawaiʻi Tip: T-5 simplifies care transitions when moving between regions.

TRICARE Plans

Eligible members must be in DEERS before enrolling. Compare plans: Tricare.mil/Plans.

● TRICARE Prime – Managed care for Active Duty (no fees for families).

● TRICARE Select – Self-managed preferred network with fixed fees.

● TRICARE For Life (TFL) – Secondary to Medicare. Call (866) 773-0404 or visit Tricare4u.com.

● TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) – Coverage for unmarried dependents up to age 26.

● TRICARE Reserve/Retired Reserve – Coverage for Guard, Reserve, and retirees.

● ECHO (Extended Care Health Option) – For family members with special needs.
Call (888) 874-9378 for info.

MHS GENESIS

In 2025, the TRICARE Online Patient Portal was officially decommissioned and replaced by MHS GENESIS, the Department of Defense’s modern electronic health record (EHR) system. Your health information travels with you, ensuring continuity of care wherever you go.

At Tripler Army Medical Center, MHS GENESIS has fully replaced TRICARE Online.

Patients now have 24/7 access to their electronic health records and can:

● Book and cancel appointments

● Request prescription refills and renewals

● View clinical notes and test results

● Securely message their military health care team

What is MHS GENESIS?

Managed by the Defense Healthcare Management System Modernization Program, MHS GENESIS fully integrates:

● Inpatient and outpatient care

● Medical and dental records

● Seamless health data sharing across all military treatment facilities

OPEN SEASON

TRICARE Open Season is the annual enrollment period when eligible beneficiaries can enroll in, change, or disenroll from TRICARE health plans.

When Is Open Season?

● Begins: Second Monday in November

● Ends: Second Monday in December

● Occurs every fall

What You Can Do During Open Season:

● Enroll in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select (if eligible)

● Switch plans (e.g., from Prime to Select or vice versa)

● Disenroll from your current plan*
Note: Disenrolling may result in a loss of TRICARE coverage unless you have another health plan.

● If you take no action, your current TRICARE plan will automatically continue into the next year—as long as you're still eligible.

Who Open Season Applies To:

● Active duty family members

● Retired service members and families

● National Guard and Reserve members and their families using:

○ TRICARE Reserve Select

○ TRICARE Retired Reserve

Who It Does Not Apply To:

● Active Duty Service Members (automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime)

● Those using:

○ TRICARE For Life

○ TRICARE Young Adult

○ TRICARE Reserve Select (Open Season does not apply unless specified)

What If You Miss the Open Season?

Outside of Open Season, changes are only allowed if you experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). QLEs allow you to update or change your TRICARE plan outside of the normal enrollment window.

Examples of QLEs:

● Marriage or divorce

● Birth or adoption of a child

● Change in residence

● Loss of other health insurance