TRICARE Minnesota: Minneapolis-St. Paul ARS & Plans | TRICARE.com

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not an official government platform. For official policy and enrollment, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## TRICARE in Minnesota Minnesota is located in the **TRICARE East Region**. Comprehensive health care coverage for beneficiaries in the North Star State is managed by the regional contractor, **Humana Military**. While Minnesota does not have a major active-duty "Mega-Base," it is home to a significant population of National Guard and Reserve members who rely on TRICARE Reserve Select.

## Major military installations Minnesota’s military presence is defined by significant air operations and National Guard training sites. Key locations include:

* **Minneapolis-Saint Paul Joint Air Reserve Station (ARS):** Home to the 934th Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve) and the 133rd Airlift Wing (Minnesota Air National Guard). * **Fort Ripley:** A premier National Guard training center located near Little Falls. * **Duluth Air National Guard Base:** Home to the 148th Fighter Wing. * **109th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron:** Located in Saint Paul. * **US Army Corps of Engineers (St. Paul District):** Providing regional engineering services.

## Plans available in Minnesota Minnesota residents have access to the following TRICARE plans depending on their beneficiary status and location:

| Plan Type | Eligibility | | :--- | :--- | | **TRICARE Prime** | Available primarily in "Prime Service Areas" (PSAs) around Minneapolis-St. Paul. | | **TRICARE Select** | PPO-style plan available statewide for those who prefer to manage their own care without referrals. | | **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)** | Available to qualified members of the Selected Reserve (National Guard/Reserve) and their families. | | **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR)** | Available for purchase by retired Reserve/Guard members under age 60 and their families. | | **TRICARE For Life (TFL)** | Wrap-around coverage for beneficiaries with Medicare Part A and B. | | **TRICARE Young Adult** | Coverage for adult children up to age 26 who have aged out of regular TRICARE. |

*Note: The US Family Health Plan (USFHP) is not currently available in the state of Minnesota.*

## Finding care in Minnesota Because Minnesota is in the East Region, all beneficiaries should use the **Humana Military Provider Directory** to locate network doctors, specialists, and hospitals.

* **Network vs. Non-Network:** In the Twin Cities metro area (Minneapolis-St. Paul), there is a robust network of civilian providers. If you use TRICARE Select, your out-of-pocket costs will be lower at "Network" providers. Those using TRICARE Prime will typically be managed through the 934th Airlift Wing medical groups or local civilian network PCM (Primary Care Manager). * **Telehealth:** Humana Military offers robust telehealth options for Minnesota residents, including Doctor on Demand and other virtual mental health services. This is particularly useful for members living in rural areas near Fort Ripley or the Arrowhead region. * **Pharmacy:** Prescriptions can be filled at the Minneapolis-St. Paul ARS base pharmacy, via Express Scripts Home Delivery, or at thousands of retail network pharmacies across the state (including many CVS, Walgreens, and grocery store pharmacies).

Common questions for Minnesota beneficiaries

**Is the Minneapolis-Saint Paul ARS Clinic open to all TRICARE beneficiaries?** The 934th Airlift Wing medical clinic primarily focuses on readiness for reservists. However, active duty members and certain family members enrolled in Prime may have limited access to services. Most retirees and Select beneficiaries in Minnesota utilize the civilian network for their medical care.

**What happens if I move from Minnesota (East Region) to South Dakota (West Region)?** Since Minnesota is in the East (Humana Military) and South Dakota is in the West (TriWest), a move across the border is considered a "Qualifying Life Event" (QLE). You must update your address in DEERS and contact TriWest Healthcare Alliance to transfer your enrollment within 90 days of your move.

**Does TRICARE work with Minnesota Medical Assistance (Medicaid)?** Yes. By law, TRICARE is the primary payer and Medicaid is the payer of last resort. If you have both, your providers must bill TRICARE first.

## Sources * TRICARE East Region (Humana Military): [humanamilitary.com](https://www.humanamilitary.com) * Official TRICARE Plan Finder: [tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility](https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility) * 934th Airlift Wing (Minneapolis-St. Paul ARS): [934aw.afrc.af.mil](https://www.934aw.afrc.af.mil) * Defense Health Agency: [health.mil](https://www.health.mil)