Returning From Overseas: TRICARE Transition Guide | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer When returning from overseas to the United States, you must update your address in DEERS and enroll in a new TRICARE plan for your new region. Moving is a Qualifying Life Event (QLE), giving you 90 days from your arrival date to switch from TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP) to a state-side plan like TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select.

Details

### 1. Update DEERS Immediately The moment you arrive in the United States, your first priority is updating the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Your health care options are determined by your new residential zip code. If DEERS still shows an APO/FPO or foreign address, you will not be able to enroll in a stateside plan, and claims for care in the U.S. may be denied or processed as "out-of-network."

### 2. Choose Your New Plan Within 90 days of your move, you must choose a plan based on your location and status: * **TRICARE Prime:** Available in Prime Service Areas (PSAs). This is the mandatory plan for Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs). Family members can also choose Prime to have lower out-of-pocket costs but must use a Primary Care Manager (PCM). * **TRICARE Select:** A PPO-style plan available anywhere in the U.S. There is no PCM requirement, and you can see any TRICARE-authorized provider. This is often preferred by those moving to remote areas. * **TRICARE For Life (TFL):** If you are Medicare-eligible, you do not need to "enroll," but you must ensure you have Medicare Part B active upon your return. TFL works as secondary payer to Medicare in the U.S.

### 3. Contact Your New Regional Contractor Your overseas coverage is managed by International SOS, but once you are back, you will deal with one of two regional contractors: * **East Region (Humana Military):** Generally the eastern half of the U.S. * **West Region (TriWest Healthcare Alliance):** Generally the western half of the U.S. (Effective Jan 1, 2025, TriWest manages this region under the T-5 contract).

### 4. Costs and Enrollment Fees (2026 Rates) If you are an Active Duty Family Member (ADFM), there are no enrollment fees for Prime or Select. For retirees and their families (Group A, entered service before 2018), 2026 rates include: * **TRICARE Prime:** ~$392/year for individuals or ~$784/year for families (varies by plan year — check TRICARE.mil for exact current rates). * **TRICARE Select:** ~$194/year for individuals or ~$388/year for families (varies by plan year).

### 5. Prescriptions Your pharmacy benefit manager remains **Express Scripts**. However, you can now utilize the TRICARE Retail Pharmacy Network or the TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. Note that OCONUS (overseas) pharmacies work differently than stateside ones; you will likely need new prescriptions from your new stateside provider.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Must enroll in Prime at their new duty station. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Can choose Prime or Select. * **Retirees and their families:** Must choose a stateside plan or transition to TRICARE For Life if Medicare-eligible. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Moving back may affect eligibility for TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS).

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Moving When You Have TRICARE](https://www.tricare.mil/moving) * **Humana Military (East):** [HumanaMilitary.com](https://www.humanamilitary.com/) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** [TriWest.com](https://www.triwest.com/) * **TRICARE Overseas (International SOS):** [tricare-overseas.com](https://www.tricare-overseas.com/)