TRICARE Alabama: Fort Novosel & East Region Guide | TRICARE.com

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## TRICARE in Alabama Alabama is located within the **TRICARE East Region**. Comprehensive health care services for beneficiaries in this state are managed by the regional contractor, **Humana Military**. Residents at Fort Novosel and throughout the state also utilize **Express Scripts** for pharmacy benefits and **TriCare For Life** if they are Medicare-eligible.

## Major military installations Alabama is home to several critical military hubs, with Fort Novosel serving as the primary focus for Army Aviation. Key installations include:

* **Fort Novosel** (formerly Fort Rucker) – Army; Dale/Coffee County (near Enterprise and Ozark). * **Redstone Arsenal** – Army; Huntsville. * **Maxwell Air Force Base** – Air Force; Montgomery. * **Gunter Annex** – Air Force; Montgomery. * **Anniston Army Depot** – Army; Anniston. * **Saufley Field (NOLF)** – Navy; near the Florida-Alabama border.

## Plans available in Alabama Beneficiaries in Alabama have access to the following 2026 TRICARE plans, depending on their service status:

| Plan Type | Eligibility/Description | | :--- | :--- | | **TRICARE Prime** | Managed care option for active duty and retirees in Prime Service Areas (PSAs). | | **TRICARE Prime Remote** | For those living and working in rural Alabama areas away from a base. | | **TRICARE Select** | A PPO-style plan offering more flexibility to choose providers (no referrals required). | | **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)** | Premium-based plan for qualified Selected Reserve members. | | **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR)** | Premium-based plan for retired National Guard/Reserve under age 60. | | **TRICARE For Life (TFL)** | Wrap-around coverage for those with Medicare Part A & B. | | **TRICARE Young Adult** | For adult children (21–25) who have aged out of regular coverage. |

*Note: The US Family Health Plan (USFHP) is generally not available in Alabama as the state lacks a designated USFHP participant site.*

## Finding care in Alabama Alabama beneficiaries have two primary paths for care: Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) and the civilian network.

1. **Direct Care at Fort Novosel:** The **Lyster Army Health Clinic** is the primary MTF for those stationed at Fort Novosel. It provides primary care, pediatrics, and flight medicine. 2. **The Humana Military Network:** For specialty care or for those on TRICARE Select, you must use the [Humana Military Provider Directory](https://www.humanamilitary.com/beneficiary/find-a-provider). Using "Network" providers keeps out-of-pocket costs lower than "Non-Network" providers. 3. **Telehealth:** Humana Military offers robust telehealth options for Alabama residents through partners like Doctor on Demand. This is particularly useful for members in the more rural Black Belt region or rural Wiregrass area.

Common questions for Alabama beneficiaries

**I am PCSing to Fort Novosel. When should I switch my enrollment?** You should update your address in DEERS as soon as you arrive. Because you are staying within the East Region (if moving from a state like Georgia or Florida), you can simply update your address with Humana Military. However, if moving from the West Region (TriWest coverage), you must technically "transfer" your enrollment to the East Region to ensure your Prime coverage remains active.

**Can I use the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital with TRICARE?** Yes, UAB is one of the premier medical facilities in the South and frequently participates in the TRICARE network. It is often used for high-complexity specialty care that may not be available at Lyster Army Health Clinic or smaller community hospitals in the Wiregrass area.

**How does TRICARE work with Alabama Medicaid?** By law, TRICARE is the secondary payer to most other health insurance plans, but it is the primary payer to Medicaid. If you or a family member qualify for Alabama Medicaid, TRICARE pays first, and Medicaid is the payer of last resort.

## Sources * [TRICARE East - Humana Military](https://www.humanamilitary.com/) * [Lyster Army Health Clinic (Fort Novosel)](https://lyster.tricare.mil/) * [TRICARE.mil Plan Finder](https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/PlanFinder) * [Defense Manpower Data Center (DEERS)](https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/)