TRICARE Information for Hurricane Victims

Tricare beneficiaries and their families affected by Hurricane Katrina will continue to receive health benefits, service and support during this time of tragedy, said Tricare Management Activity officials.

Affected beneficiaries enrolled in Tricare Standard, a fee-for-service option, may seek care from any Tricare-authorized provider. Displaced beneficiaries enrolled in Tricare Prime can call Humana Military Healthcare Services at (800) 444-5445 for more information or to find a provider in their area.

Additionally, Tricare officials said they are committed to working with those affected by the hurricane to ensure they receive their medications. Beneficiaries will be able to get early prescription refills as needed, and through Sept. 14, the Department of Defense is waiving the pharmacy co-pay for affected beneficiaries who are unable to pay it.

For beneficiaries previously using the mail order pharmacy, prescriptions may be requested from retail pharmacies if unable to receive them by mail. However, prescriptions will not be shipped to ZIP codes blocked by the U.S. Postal Service.

The Tricare mail order pharmacy contractor is actively transferring prescriptions, upon the beneficiary's request, to retail pharmacies for those who participate in the program. They are also updating patient information to include temporary mailing addresses so prescriptions will reach beneficiaries at their new locations.

For more information about the mail order pharmacy benefit, call toll free (866) 363-8667. For questions about filling prescriptions or submitting claims for the retail pharmacy program, call toll free (866) 363-8779. The Tricare Website includes important information for displaced or affected beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries may also contact beneficiary counseling and assistance coordinators, debt collection assistance officers and family support representatives at local military installations. If beneficiaries are unable to obtain assistance at any of the named resources, they may call (800)363-2273.