TRICARE Washington: JBLM and West Region Guide (2026) | TRICARE.com

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## TRICARE in Washington The state of Washington is located in the **TRICARE West Region**. As of January 1, 2025, the regional contractor is **TriWest Healthcare Alliance**, which replaced Health Net Federal Services (HNFS). Washington is home to one of the largest military populations in the United States, concentrated heavily in the Puget Sound region, where beneficiaries have access to a robust network of civilian providers and one of the military's premier medical centers.

## Major military installations Washington hosts several critical installations, with Joint Base Lewis-McChord being the largest: * **Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM):** Army and Air Force; located in Tacoma/Lakewood. * **Naval Air Station Whidbey Island:** Navy; located in Oak Harbor. * **Naval Station Everett:** Navy; located in Everett. * **Naval Base Kitsap (Bremerton/Bangor):** Navy; located in Bremerton. * **Fairchild Air Force Base:** Air Force; located in Spokane.

## Plans available in Washington Washington residents have access to the full suite of TRICARE plans, plus a specialized option for the Puget Sound area:

| Plan Type | Eligibility/Description | | :--- | :--- | | **TRICARE Prime** | Managed care with a Primary Care Manager (PCM) at a military clinic or network provider. | | **TRICARE Select** | PPO-style plan with choice of providers; requires meeting a deductible and paying cost-shares. | | **TRICARE Reserve Select** | Premium-based plan for qualified Selected Reserve members. | | **TRICARE Retired Reserve** | Premium-based plan for retired National Guard and Reserve members under age 60. | | **TRICARE For Life** | Medicare-wraparound coverage for those with Medicare Parts A & B. | | **TRICARE Young Adult** | Option for adult children who have aged out of regular TRICARE but aren't 26 yet. | | **US Family Health Plan (USFHP)** | Available via **Pacific Medical Centers (PacMed)** in the Puget Sound area for Prime-eligible beneficiaries. |

## Finding care in Washington For those living near JBLM or the naval bases, care is typically managed through the Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) like **Madigan Army Medical Center**.

* **Provider Directory:** Beneficiaries should use the **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** provider search tool for the West Region to find network civilian doctors in cities like Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane. * **Network vs. Non-Network:** Using a network provider lowers your out-of-pocket costs and prevents "balance billing." In Washington, the network is dense in the I-5 corridor but may be more limited in rural eastern Washington. * **The USFHP Option:** Residents in Western Washington have the unique option of the US Family Health Plan through Pacific Medical Centers. If you enroll in USFHP, you receive all your care through PacMed providers rather than military clinics. * **Telehealth:** TriWest offers a dedicated telehealth portal for behavioral health and urgent care, which is particularly useful for beneficiaries in the Olympic Peninsula or the Yakima Valley.

Common questions for Washington beneficiaries

**Does Madigan Army Medical Center treat retirees and their families?** Yes, Madigan (located at JBLM) provides care to active duty, retirees, and families. However, enrollment space in TRICARE Prime at Madigan can reach capacity. If the MTF is full, you may be assigned a civilian PCM in the TriWest network.

**I’m moving to JBLM from the East Coast. When does my coverage switch?** Because Washington is in the West Region (TriWest), you must contact TriWest to transfer your enrollment once you arrive at your new address. Do not wait for your first appointment to update your address in DEERS.

**Can I use Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) and TRICARE?** Yes. If you qualify for both, TRICARE pays first and Washington Apple Health is the payer of last resort. This is common for some junior enlisted families or those with specific disability needs.

## Sources * **TRICARE West Region (TriWest):** [https://www.triwest.com](https://www.triwest.com) * **Madigan Army Medical Center:** [https://madigan.tricare.mil](https://madigan.tricare.mil) * **TRICARE Plan Finder:** [https://tricare.mil/Plans/PlanFinder](https://tricare.mil/Plans/PlanFinder) * **US Family Health Plan (PacMed):** [https://www.usfhpnw.org](https://www.usfhpnw.org)