General MHS Questions

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• What is the Military Health System (MHS)?

  America’s Military Health System (MHS) is a unique partnership of medical educators, medical researchers, and health care providers and their support personnel worldwide. It is prepared to respond anytime, anywhere with comprehensive medical capability to military operations, natural disasters and humanitarian crises around the globe, and to ensure delivery of world-class health care to all DoD service members, retirees, and their families. The MHS promotes a fit, healthy and protected force by reducing non-combat losses, optimizing healthy behavior and physical performance, and providing casualty care.

• Who belongs to the Military Health System (MHS)?

  The Military Health System (MHS) consists of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs; the medical departments of the Army, Navy,  Air Force and Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Combatant Command surgeons; and TRICARE providers (including private sector healthcare providers, hospitals and pharmacies).

• What services does the Military Health System (MHS) provide?

  The Military Health System (MHS) is a source of innovative education, medical training, research, technology and policy that strives to provide a bridge to peace.

• How do I contact the Military Health System (MHS)?

  You can contact the Military Health System (MHS) in a number of ways because the MHS is made up of many component offices.

   

  To contact the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs)

   

  Contacts for TRICARE Customer Service are listed at www.tricare.mil/contactus

   

  Contact pages for the SERVICE medical departments:

  U.S. Army Medical Department - http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/tools/contacts.cfm

   

  Air Force Surgeon General

  http://www.sg.af.mil/main/contactus.asp

   

  Navy Medicine

  http://www.med.navy.mil/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

   

  U.S. Coast Guard Medicine

  http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg1/cg11/

   

  For questions regarding Department of Veterans Affairs health care benefits, visit
  https://iris.va.gov/scripts/iris.cfg/php.exe/enduser/home.php

  To submit articles or ideas for articles to the Military Health System Web site, please e-mail:
  MHSWebContent@tma.osd.mil
  (Please note: We cannot guarantee that your article or idea submission will result in an article published on health.mil.)

  To submit comments regarding the technical aspects of the Military Health System Web site, please e-mail:
  MHSWebmaster@tma.osd.mil

• Who should I contact regarding a medical issue?

  If you are experiencing a medical-related issue or need advice from a health care professional, please visit your nearest health care provider.

• What kinds of programs are offered to support Military families?

  The Department of Defense and Military Health System offer a variety of resources and programs that support Military families.  You can get information on these different programs by calling Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647 or by visiting their Web site at http://www.militaryonesource.com.

• Where can I find information on specific military treatment facilities, such as Walter Reed or Madigan Army Medical Center?

  Use the Military Treatment Facilities (MTF) Locator to find information about medical facilities around the world: http://www.tricare.mil/mtf/. Contact information, areas of specialization and links to facility Web sites can be found by using the MTF Locator. 

TRICARE Questions

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• How do I contact TRICARE?

  You may contact TRICARE at 1-800-866- 8499 or on the Web at http://www.tricare.mil/contactus/

• What is the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)?

  The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) is a worldwide, computerized database of uniformed services member (sponsors), their family members, and others who are eligible for military benefits.  Proper registration in DEERS is key to receiving timely and effective TRICARE benefits.

  All sponsors (active duty, retired, National Guard, or Reserve) are automatically registered in DEERS; however, the sponsor must register eligible family members.  After family members are registered, they can update personal information such as addresses and phone numbers.
  
  You can contact the DEERS team at 1-800-538-9552 or via the Web at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/address/indexAction.do

• How do I sign up a dependent for TRICARE? How can I order TRICARE card for them?

  You may contact TRICARE at 1-800-866- 8499 or on the Web at www.tricare.mil to learn more about TRICARE dependent care.

• Where can I go to find out information on TRICARE benefits, who qualifies, what medical procedures are covered etc.?

  You may contact TRICARE at 1-800-866- 8499 or on the Web at www.tricare.mil to learn more about TRICARE benefits and coverage.  In addition, you may reach out to a TRICARE Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator (BCAC) at www.tricare.mil/bcacdcao/ to get more information and to enhance your understanding of TRICARE programs.

• What is the process of setting up a doctor’s appointment through TRICARE?

   You may contact TRICARE at 1-800-866- 8499 or on the Web at http://tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/Medical/GettingCare/Appointment? to learn more about setting up a doctor’s appointment through TRICARE .

   

  The rules and appointment access standards are different based on which TRICARE health plan option you are using. To get the most accurate information about making appointments for urgent, routine (primary), specialty or preventative enter your profile online at http://tricare.mil/mybenefit/ProfileFilter.do?puri=%2Fhome%2FMedical%2FGettingCare%2FAppointment

• Does TRICARE cover nursing homes or rehabilitation care?

  For skilled nursing care and long term care questions contact your TRICARE Service Center or regional contractor.  You may also contact TRICARE at 1-800-866- 8499  or on the Web at www.tricare.mil to learn more about TRICARE nursing homes or rehabilitation care.

• What is TRICARE’s dental plan for both active and retired service members and their families?

  You may contact TRICARE at 1-800-866- 8499 or on the Web at http://tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/Dental to learn more about the TRICARE dental plans.

• What does TRICARE’s vision plan entail?

  You may contact TRICARE at 1-800-866- 8499or on the Web at http://tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/Vision? to learn more about the TRICARE vision plan.

   

  TRICARE vision benefits vary depending on status and type of plan. TRICARE covers some surgeries or treatments for disease or conditions of the eye. Some however, are not covered at all. See Covered Services for clarification. http://tricare.mil/mybenefit/ProfileFilter.do?puri=%2Fhome%2FVision

• What is the process to file a prescription claim?

  You may contact the TRICARE Retail Pharmacy (TRRx) Program with questions about your prescription claims.  Customer service representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

   

  Anywhere in the World

  Toll-free – 1-866-DOD-TTRX (1-866-363-8779)

   

  TDD Calls for the Hearing Impaired

  Toll-free – 1-877-540-6261

   

  You may also go to http://tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/Prescriptions/Claims to get instructions and download necessary prescription claim forms.

• Who is eligible for TRICARE For Life (TFL)?

  TRICARE for Life (TFL) is for:

  • Medicare-entitled uniformed services retirees,
  • Medicare-entitled retired guard members and reservists,
  • Medicare-entitled family members and widows/widowers, and
  • Medicare-entitled unremarried former spouses who meet TRICARE eligibility requirements.

  
  Under Federal law, if you are a TRICARE beneficiary entitled to Medicare because of age, disability or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), you must enroll and pay the monthly Medicare Part B premium in order to remain TRICARE-eligible. If you are an active duty family member entitled to Medicare, you aren’t required to purchase Part B until your active duty sponsor retires.
  
  If you are unsure about your TRICARE eligibility, contact the Defense Manpower Data Center Support (DMDC) Office to check your eligibility status in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). You may do this by visiting your nearest uniformed services ID card facility or by calling DMDC toll-free at 1-800-538-9552. To locate the nearest ID card facility, visit www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/. 

Wounded Warrior/Veteran Question

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• How can I contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)?

  You may contact the VA at 1-800-827-1000 or on the Web at https://iris.va.gov.

• Where can I find information on Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits eligibility?

  You may contact the VA via phone at 1-800-827-1000 with any questions.

   

  You can also visit the VA’s Web site at https://iris.va.gov or go to http://www.vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/instructions.asp to find the Veterans Online Application System, an online system that allows veterans to fill out forms and apply online for various benefits offered by the US Veterans Benefits Administration.

• Where can I find information, help, and support for mental health issues, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

  The VA mental health Web site can be accessed at http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/
  
  The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mental Health Strategic Healthcare Group provides general inpatient psychiatric services at 132 medical centers as well as mental health outpatient services in 689 medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics. In addition, readjustment counseling services are available for veterans and their families at 209 Vet Centers across the nation.
  
  Mental health services are available in primary care clinics, VA nursing homes, and residential care facilities where veterans receive health care. Veterans with a serious mental illness are seen at facilities and clinics where specialized programs, such as mental health intensive case management, day centers, work programs and psychosocial rehabilitation are provided.

   

  You can also visit the VA’s Web site at https://iris.va.gov or go to http://www.vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/instructions.asp to find the Veterans Online Application System, an online system that allows veterans to fill out forms and apply online for various benefits offered by the US Veterans Benefits Administration.

• Where can I find information on Wounded Warrior Care or resources available to me?

  You can find a multitude of resources that may be helpful at www.warriorcare.mil.

• What is the breakdown of the different Veterans Affairs (VA) disability ratings?

  For information about VA disability ratings you can visit the VA’s Web site at https://iris.va.gov.