TRICARE South Dakota: Plans, Rates, and Provider Guide | TRICARE.com

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## TRICARE in South Dakota South Dakota is part of the **TRICARE West Region**. As of January 1, 2025, the regional contractor is **TriWest Healthcare Alliance**, which replaced Health Net Federal Services (HNFS). Beneficiaries in South Dakota, including members of the South Dakota National Guard, manage their care, authorizations, and referrals through the TriWest portal.

## Major military installations While South Dakota has a smaller active-duty footprint than some neighboring states, it is home to critical Air Force operations and a robust National Guard presence centered in Rapid City and Sioux Falls.

* **Ellsworth Air Force Base** – Air Force (Box Elder/Rapid City) * **South Dakota National Guard Headquarters (Camp Rapid)** – National Guard (Rapid City) * **Joe Foss Field** – South Dakota Air National Guard (Sioux Falls) * **South Dakota National Guard - Joint Force Headquarters** – National Guard (Pierre)

## Plans available in South Dakota South Dakota residents have access to the following TRICARE plans based on their status and location:

| Plan | Eligibility | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **TRICARE Prime** | Active Duty & Dependents | Standard HMO-style care; primary around Ellsworth AFB. | | **TRICARE Select** | Active Duty, Retirees, & Families | PPO-style plan with more flexibility for out-of-network care. | | **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)** | Qualified National Guard Members | Premium-based plan for "drilling" Guard members. | | **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR)** | Retired Guard/Reserve under age 60 | Premium-based plan for the "gray area" retirement period. | | **TRICARE For Life (TFL)** | Medicare-wraparound | For retirees age 65+ with Medicare Part A and B. | | **TRICARE Young Adult** | Adult children under 26 | Available as Prime or Select variants for those not yet 26. |

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

## Finding care in South Dakota Beneficiaries in South Dakota can find providers using the **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** provider directory.

* **Network vs. Non-Network:** In areas like Rapid City (near Ellsworth AFB), you will find a dense network of civilian providers. In more rural parts of the state, you may need to utilize "non-network" providers. Using a non-network provider typically results in higher out-of-pocket costs and may require you to file your own claims. * **South Dakota National Guard Hq:** Members reporting to Camp Rapid or Joint Force HQ in Pierre often rely on TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS). TRS allows members to see any TRICARE-authorized provider, but costs are lower when using the TriWest network. * **Telehealth:** TriWest offers access to telehealth services for urgent care and mental health, which is a vital resource for Guard members living in western or central South Dakota where specialist access may be limited.

Common questions for South Dakota beneficiaries

**I am a member of the South Dakota National Guard; am I required to use Ellsworth AFB for care?** No. Most National Guard members on TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) use civilian providers in their home communities. While you may be able to use the 28th Medical Group at Ellsworth on a space-available basis, it is not a requirement for TRS members.

**What happens to my TRICARE coverage if I am activated for a mission?** When South Dakota National Guard members are called to active duty for more than 30 consecutive days, they (and their families) transition from their previous coverage to active-duty TRICARE benefits (Prime or Select). This typically includes transitional health care (TAMP) for 180 days after the mission ends.

**How does South Dakota Medicaid interact with TRICARE?** By law, TRICARE is the secondary payer to most other health insurance plans, but it is the primary payer to Medicaid. If you are eligible for both, TRICARE pays first and Medicaid is the payer of last resort.

## Sources 1. **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region Contractor):** [https://www.triwest.com/](https://www.triwest.com/) 2. **TRICARE.mil Plan Finder:** [https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Schedules/Enrollment](https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Schedules/Enrollment) 3. **South Dakota Department of the Military:** [https://military.sd.gov/](https://military.sd.gov/) 4. **Ellsworth Air Force Base 28th Medical Group:** [https://ellsworth.tricare.mil/](https://ellsworth.tricare.mil/)