TRICARE Region Changes 2025: T5 Transition Guide | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer As of January 1, 2025, TRICARE implemented a massive contract overhaul known as T5. The most significant change is that **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** now manages the West Region (replacing Health Net Federal Services), while several states shifted from the East Region to the West Region to balance the population.

Details

The T5 (fifth generation) TRICARE contracts went live on January 1, 2025. This transition changed how roughly 9.6 million beneficiaries access care across the United States.

### Regional Contractor Changes While the TRICARE East contractor remains **Humana Military**, the TRICARE West contract transitioned from Health Net Federal Services (HNFS) to **TriWest Healthcare Alliance**. TriWest now manages all provider networks, referrals, and claims for beneficiaries in the West.

### The Geographic Shift (6 States Moved) To better balance the workload between the two regions, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) moved approximately 1.5 million beneficiaries from the East Region to the West Region. If you live in one of the following states, you are now part of the **TRICARE West Region** (TriWest): * Arkansas * Illinois * Louisiana * Oklahoma * Texas * Wisconsin

### Impact on Referrals and Authorizations For most beneficiaries, existing prior authorizations for specialty care that were issued in late 2024 remained valid through the transition period for up to 90 days. However, for any new care initiated after January 1, 2025, providers in the six "shift" states must work with TriWest rather than Humana Military.

### Enrollment and Payment Changes * **Automatic Transfers:** Beneficiaries in the affected states were moved automatically; no new enrollment forms were required. * **Allotments:** If you pay premiums via military allotment, these should have transitioned automatically. * **Bank Drafts/Credit Cards:** Beneficiaries moving from East to West (or those already in the West) were required to update their payment information with TriWest to avoid a lapse in coverage. * **2026 Rates:** Standard enrollment fees and catastrophic caps continue to follow the annual inflation adjustments. For 2026, Group A retirees typically see a TRICARE Prime enrollment fee of approximately $392 per individual or $784 per family (verify exact 2026 figures at TRICARE.mil as they are subject to annual adjustment).

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Primary care manager (PCM) assignments may have shifted if their clinic moved regions. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Impacted specifically by contractor changes in the 6 shifting states. * **Retirees and their Families:** Must ensure automatic payment methods are set up with the correct regional contractor. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Transition affects those using TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS). * **Survivors and Medically Retired:** All must ensure their DEERS information is current to receive regional communications.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Plan Change Information](https://www.tricare.mil/t5) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [West Region Portal](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military:** [East Region Portal](https://www.humanamilitary.com) * **Defense Health Agency:** [T5 Contract Award Announcements](https://health.mil)