Military nurses have an unwavering commitment to advancing our health and wellness to ensure that every service member is fit to fight, that our medical teams are trained and ready, and that our families receive the care they deserve. This week, we honor the strength and dedication of the extraordinary professionals who serve both our country and warfighters with unwavering courage. Whether they are on the frontlines, in field hospitals or at military medical centers around the world, their commitment to care under the most challenging conditions inspires us all.

Do you live in the Atlanta, Georgia or Tampa, Florida metropolitan area? Your TRICARE health plan options are about to expand. Starting in January 2026, TRICARE Prime Atlanta and TRICARE Prime Tampa options, a Competitive Plans Demonstration, will bring more choices to eligible beneficiaries. These options are administered by CareSource Military & Veterans. Enrollees will get care from CSMV’s network of primary and specialty care providers.

Do you live in the West Region? Do you have TRICARE Prime? You should know that the Defense Health Agency has extended the West Region referral approval waiver through June 30. TRICARE-authorized specialty care providers don’t need to wait for TriWest Healthcare Alliance to approve referrals issued by your primary care manager before providing outpatient care.

Do you currently live in the TRICARE West Region? Do you pay for your TRICARE coverage using a bank electronic funds transfer, credit card, or debit card? If you haven’t done so already, you must securely provide your payment information to the West Region contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, by April 30. If you haven’t submitted payment to TriWest by April 30, you and your family members will be disenrolled from your TRICARE plan on May 1. This disenrollment is retroactive to your paid-through date.

TRICARE covers age-appropriate doses of vaccines, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Need technical assistance with accessing the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal? Beneficiaries are encouraged to contact the Defense Manpower Data Center web support.

This video is an introduction to the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal.

Are you feeling anxious or on edge? TRICARE covers mental health services that can help.