TRICARE South Carolina: Plans, Bases, and Network Care | TRICARE.com

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## TRICARE in South Carolina South Carolina is part of the **TRICARE East Region**. Comprehensive medical coverage for beneficiaries in the state is managed by the regional contractor, **Humana Military**. Because South Carolina is home to several major training hubs and coastal installations, it has a robust network of both military treatment facilities (MTFs) and civilian network providers.

## Major military installations South Carolina hosts several critical military hubs across all branches of service: * **Fort Jackson (Army)** – Columbia: The Army’s main center for Basic Combat Training. * **Joint Base Charleston (Air Force/Navy)** – Charleston/North Charleston: Primarily supporting airlift missions and naval support. * **Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island (Marine Corps)** – Beaufort: One of two locations where United States Marines are trained. * **Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort (Marine Corps)** – Beaufort: Home to Marine Aircraft Group 31. * **Shaw Air Force Base (Air Force)** – Sumter: Home to the 20th Fighter Wing. * **Naval Hospital Beaufort (Navy)** – Beaufort: A key South Carolina military medical facility.

## Plans available in South Carolina Beneficiaries in South Carolina can choose from several plans depending on their status (Active Duty, National Guard/Reserve, or Retiree).

| Plan | Best For... | | :--- | :--- | | **TRICARE Prime** | Active duty members and families near MTFs (Fort Jackson, Shaw, etc.). Low out-of-pocket costs with managed care. | | **TRICARE Select** | Those who want to choose their own doctors and don't mind higher deductibles. No referrals required. | | **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)** | Qualified Selected Reserve members and their families. | | **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR)** | Retired Reserve members under age 60. | | **TRICARE For Life (TFL)** | Dual-eligible retirees with Medicare Part A and B. Acts as secondary payer. | | **TRICARE Young Adult** | Adult children (ages 21–26) who have aged out of regular TRICARE coverage. |

*Note: The US Family Health Plan (USFHP) is generally not available in South Carolina as it is outside the designated service areas for that specific program.*

## Finding care in South Carolina For those enrolled in **TRICARE Prime**, your primary point of care will typically be at a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) if you live within a Prime Service Area (PSA). For example, those near Columbia will likely use Moncrief Army Health Clinic at Fort Jackson.

If you are using **TRICARE Select** or living outside a PSA, you can search for civilian providers using the Humana Military East Region Provider Directory. * **Network Providers:** These doctors have agreements with Humana Military to charge negotiated rates and file claims for you. * **Non-Network Providers:** These may be "participating" (agree to a set rate per visit) or "non-participating" (may charge up to 15% above the TRICARE allowable amount).

**Telehealth:** TRICARE covers secure video conferencing for many services in South Carolina, including mental health counseling and some specialty care, provided the provider is TRICARE-authorized.

Common questions for South Carolina beneficiaries

**What happens if I am PCSing to South Carolina?** You should not cancel your current coverage. Once you arrive at your new duty station (e.g., Shaw AFB or Fort Jackson), update your address in DEERS. You can then transfer your enrollment to the East Region via the Humana Military portal or by calling 1-800-444-5445.

**Can I use TRICARE at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)?** Yes, MUSC in Charleston is a major provider. However, whether you need a referral depends on your plan. Prime enrollees must have a referral from their Primary Care Manager (PCM), while Select enrollees can schedule directly with specialists at MUSC, though they will pay higher cost-shares for "specialty" care.

**How does TRICARE interact with South Carolina Healthy Connections (Medicaid)?** If you have both TRICARE and South Carolina Medicaid, TRICARE pays first. Medicaid is always the "payer of last resort."

## Sources 1. Humana Military East Region: [humanamilitary.com](https://www.humanamilitary.com/) 2. TRICARE East Region Information (TRICARE.mil): [tricare.mil/east](https://www.tricare.mil/About/Regions/East) 3. Military Hospital and Clinic Locator: [tricare.mil/mtf](https://tricare.mil/mtf) 4. Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS): [idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/](https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/)