TRICARE California: Naval Base San Diego & West Region Guide

*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not a government agency. For official policy and the most up-to-date enrollment information, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## TRICARE in California California is part of the **TRICARE West Region**. As of January 1, 2025, the regional contractor managing the West Region is **TriWest Healthcare Alliance**, which replaced Health Net Federal Services (HNFS). For beneficiaries in San Diego and across the state, TriWest is now the primary point of contact for authorizations, referrals, and provider networks.

## Major military installations California is home to some of the largest and most strategically significant military hubs in the world. Key installations include:

* **Naval Base San Diego:** The principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet (San Diego). * **Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton:** The West Coast’s premier expeditionary training base (Oceanside). * **Travis Air Force Base:** Central gateway for military airlift (Fairfield). * **Fort Irwin National Training Center:** Major Army maneuvers and training (San Bernardino County). * **Naval Air Station Lemoore:** The Navy's West Coast Master Jet Base (Lemoore). * **Beale Air Force Base:** Home of high-altitude reconnaissance (Marysville).

## Plans available in California California beneficiaries have access to the full suite of TRICARE plans. Note that 2026 rates and costs (Catastrophic Caps and Enrollment Fees) vary based on the service member's initial enlistment date (Group A vs. Group B).

| Plan Type | Who It's For | | :--- | :--- | | **TRICARE Prime** | Managed care with a primary care manager (PCM), usually at military MTFs like Naval Medical Center San Diego (Balboa). | | **TRICARE Select** | PPO-style plan allowing you to choose any TRICARE-authorized provider without a referral. | | **TRICARE Reserve Select** | Premium-based plan for qualified Selected Reserve members. | | **TRICARE Retired Reserve** | Premium-based plan for retired National Guard and Reserve members under age 60. | | **TRICARE For Life** | Secondary coverage for those with Medicare Part A and B. | | **TRICARE Young Adult** | Option for adult children who have aged out of regular TRICARE but are under 26. |

## Finding care in California To find civilian care near Naval Base San Diego or throughout California, beneficiaries should use the **TriWest Healthcare Alliance Provider Directory**. This directory identifies "Network" providers, which offer lower out-of-pocket costs and handle most paperwork on your behalf.

* **Naval Medical Center San Diego (Balboa):** This is the primary Military Treatment Facility (MTF) for the San Diego region. If you are enrolled in TRICARE Prime, you will likely be assigned a PCM here or at one of its branch clinics (e.g., NB San Diego Clinic). * **Network vs. Non-Network:** Using non-network providers under TRICARE Select will result in higher deductibles and cost-shares. * **Telehealth:** California beneficiaries have robust access to telehealth via TriWest's contracted partners (like Doctor On Demand). For 2026, most telehealth services require the same cost-shares as in-person visits, but no referral is needed for Prime members to see a network mental health provider.

Common questions for California beneficiaries

**How do I transfer my TRICARE coverage when PCSing to Naval Base San Diego?** When you arrive in California, do not disenroll from your previous region. Contact TriWest Healthcare Alliance or use the Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) portal to update your address and request a new PCM in the San Diego area. TRICARE coverage is portable, but your enrollment must be updated to the West Region to ensure correctly processed claims.

**Can I use TRICARE with California’s Medi-Cal?** Yes. TRICARE is always the primary payer to Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California). If you have both, your providers should bill TRICARE first. Medi-Cal acts as the payer of last resort for any remaining covered expenses.

**Is there a US Family Health Plan (USFHP) option in California?** No. Unlike parts of the East Coast and the Pacific Northwest, California does not currently have a designated US Family Health Plan provider. Local beneficiaries typically choose between Prime and Select.

## Sources * **TRICARE West Region - TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [https://www.triwest.com](https://www.triwest.com) * **Official TRICARE Site:** [https://www.tricare.mil](https://www.tricare.mil) * **Naval Medical Center San Diego:** [https://sandiego.tricare.mil](https://sandiego.tricare.mil) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [https://health.mil](https://health.mil)