TRICARE Tennessee: NSA Mid-South & East Region Guide | TRICARE.com
Complete guide to TRICARE in Tennessee for 2026. Coverage details for NSA Mid-South, Fort Campbell, and the Humana Military East Region network.
TRICARE Tennessee: NSA Mid-South & East Region Guide
*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program or affiliated with the Department of Defense. For official policy and the most current data, visit TRICARE.mil.*
## TRICARE in Tennessee Tennessee is part of the **TRICARE East Region**. Comprehensive health care services for military families in the state are managed by the regional contractor, **Humana Military**. While the TRICARE West Region transitioned to TriWest Healthcare Alliance on January 1, 2025, Tennessee remains under Humana Military’s oversight to ensure continuity of care for beneficiaries in the Volunteer State.
## Major military installations While Tennessee does not have a large number of active-duty installations, it is home to critical operations that support thousands of TRICARE beneficiaries:
* **NSA Mid-South (Naval Support Activity):** Located in Millington, this is the primary hub for Navy personnel and human resources. * **Fort Campbell:** While the main post address is in Kentucky, the installation straddles the Tennessee-Kentucky border, serving a massive population in Clarksville, TN. * **Arnold Air Force Base:** Located near Tullahoma, home to the Arnold Engineering Development Center. * **McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base:** Located in Knoxville, supporting the 134th Air Refueling Wing. * **Berry Field Air National Guard Base:** Located in Nashville, home to the 118th Wing.
## Plans available in Tennessee Beneficiaries in Tennessee have access to the standard suite of TRICARE programs. Availability often depends on your distance from a military treatment facility (MTF) like the Naval Branch Health Clinic at NSA Mid-South.
| Plan Type | Eligibility/Description | | :--- | :--- | | **TRICARE Prime** | Managed care option; required for active duty, available to others near MTFs. | | **TRICARE Select** | PPO-style plan with the most flexibility for choosing civilian providers. | | **TRICARE Reserve Select** | Premium-based plan for qualified Selected Reserve members. | | **TRICARE Retired Reserve** | Premium-based plan for retired Reserve members under age 60. | | **TRICARE For Life** | Medicare-wraparound coverage for retirees age 65+ with Medicare Parts A & B. | | **TRICARE Young Adult** | Option for adult children who have aged out of regular TRICARE (up to age 26). |
## Finding care in Tennessee To find a doctor in Tennessee, you should use the **Humana Military Provider Directory**.
* **NSA Mid-South Area:** If you are stationed at or living near Millington, you will typically seek primary care at the Naval Branch Health Clinic Mid-South. Referrals for specialty care will be sent into the civilian network in the greater Memphis area. * **Network vs. Non-Network:** To minimize out-of-pocket costs, ensure your provider is "In-Network." In Tennessee, TRICARE Select users can see non-network providers, but they will face higher 2026 cost-shares and may have to file their own claims. * **Telehealth:** Humana Military offers robust telehealth options for Tennessee residents, allowing for virtual primary care and mental health appointments via approved platforms like Doctor on Demand.
Common questions for Tennessee beneficiaries
**What happens if I live in Clarksville but my doctor is at Fort Campbell?** Because Fort Campbell sits on the TN/KY line, TRICARE treats the surrounding area as a single Prime Service Area. You can reside in Tennessee and be assigned a Primary Care Manager (PCM) at the Blanchfield Army Community Hospital in Kentucky.
**How does TRICARE work with TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid)?** By law, TRICARE is the secondary payer to nearly all other health insurance plans, but it is the **primary** payer to Medicaid. If you have both TRICARE and TennCare, TRICARE pays first and TennCare pays last.
**Is there a US Family Health Plan (USFHP) option in Tennessee?** No. At this time, Tennessee is not in a designated USFHP service area. Residents must choose between Prime or Select options managed by Humana Military.
## Sources 1. [TRICARE East Region - Humana Military](https://www.humanamilitary.com/) 2. [TRICARE.mil Plan Finder](https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/PlanFinder) 3. [NSA Mid-South Official Page](https://cnrnw.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NSA-Mid-South/) 4. [Defense Health Agency - T5 Contract Information](https://www.health.mil/)