TRICARE Mississippi: NAS Meridian & East Region Guide | TRICARE.com

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## TRICARE in Mississippi Mississippi is located within the **TRICARE East Region**. Since Mississippi falls under the East Region, all managed care services, provider networks, and authorizations are handled by **Humana Military**. Beneficiaries in Mississippi, particularly those around NAS Meridian, have access to a robust network of civilian providers that supplement the care provided at military treatment facilities.

## Major military installations Mississippi is home to several critical installations across different branches of service: * **NAS Meridian:** Navy (Meridian) * **Keesler Air Force Base:** Air Force (Biloxi) * **NCBC Gulfport:** Navy (Gulfport) * **Columbus Air Force Base:** Air Force (Columbus) * **Camp Shelby:** National Guard/Army (Hattiesburg) * **Camp McCain:** National Guard/Army (Grenada)

## Plans available in Mississippi Beneficiaries in Mississippi can choose from several TRICARE plan options based on their status and location:

| Plan | Best For | | :--- | :--- | | **TRICARE Prime** | Active duty and their families; requires a Primary Care Manager (PCM). | | **TRICARE Select** | PPO-style plan with more flexibility to choose doctors; no referrals required for most care. | | **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)** | Qualified members of the Selected Reserve and their families. | | **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR)** | Qualified retired Reserve members under age 60 and their families. | | **TRICARE For Life (TFL)** | Medicare-wraparound coverage for retirees 65+ with Medicare Parts A & B. | | **TRICARE Young Adult** | Adult children of primary beneficiaries who have "aged out" of regular coverage. |

*Note: The US Family Health Plan (USFHP) is not currently available in Mississippi.*

## Finding care in Mississippi For those stationed at or living near **NAS Meridian**, primary care is often provided on-base at the **Naval Branch Health Clinic (NBHC) Meridian**. However, for specialty care or services not available on-base, beneficiaries must use the Humana Military network.

* **Provider Directory:** Use the Humana Military provider search tool to find network doctors in Meridian, Jackson, or the Gulf Coast. * **Network vs. Non-Network:** Using "Network" providers results in lower out-of-pocket costs (fixed 2026 copays) compared to "Non-Network" providers who may charge up to 15% above the TRICARE-allowable amount. * **Telehealth:** Humana Military offers robust telehealth options for Mississippi residents, which is particularly useful for those in rural areas surrounding Meridian or Camp Shelby. Mental health services via telehealth do not require a referral for active duty family members or retirees on TRICARE Select.

Common questions for Mississippi beneficiaries

**I am PCSing to NAS Meridian. How do I switch my coverage?** You should not update your TRICARE plan until you have physically arrived at your new location and updated your address in DEERS. Once your address is current, you can use the Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) portal to move your Prime enrollment to NBHC Meridian or a civilian PCM if the base clinic is at capacity.

**Does Mississippi Medicaid (CAN) work with TRICARE?** Yes. By law, TRICARE is the primary payer and Medicaid is the payer of last resort. If you are a low-income beneficiary eligible for both, your providers must bill TRICARE first.

**Where is the nearest MTF for specialty care if Meridian cannot handle my case?** Depending on the complexity, you may be referred to Keesler Medical Center in Biloxi, which is a major Air Force medical hub, or to the civilian network in Jackson (UMMC).

## Sources 1. Humana Military East Region Portal: [https://www.humanamilitary.com/](https://www.humanamilitary.com/) 2. TRICARE East Plan Finder: [https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/PlanFinder](https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/PlanFinder) 3. Naval Branch Health Clinic Meridian: [https://meridian.tricare.mil/](https://meridian.tricare.mil/) 4. Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS): [https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/](https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/)