Take Command to Make a Smooth Transition with TRICARE in 2018You may be wondering what action you need to take, if any, to ensure you continue TRICARE coverage in 2018. If you’re currently enrolled in or eligible for TRICARE coverage on Dec. 31, 2017, you’ll transition to your respective TRICARE plan on Jan. 1, 2018. If you want to enroll in a TRICARE plan or change coverage after Jan. 1, 2018, you’ll need to take action to enroll in the plan of your choice.
All beneficiaries should take action by making sure their information is current in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). If you’ve experienced any changes (for example, marriage, birth, divorce and death), update DEERS as soon as possible to ensure continuous TRICARE coverage.
TRICARE is Changing. Here is what you need to know:
- Automatic Transition for Current Enrollees
- Beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Prime, either stateside or overseas, as of Dec. 31, 2017 will remain enrolled in TRICARE PrimeA managed care option available in Prime Service Areas in the United States; you have an assigned primary care manager who provides most of your care.TRICARE Primeon Jan. 1, 2018. If you have TRICARE Standard or TRICARE Extra as of Dec. 31, 2017, you’ll transition to TRICARE Select. TRICARE Select replaces TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra on Jan. 1, 2018.
- TRICARE Young AdultA premium-based plan for qualified adult children.TRICARE Young Adult
- TRICARE Reserve SelectA premium-based plan for qualified Selected Reserve members and their families.TRICARE Reserve Select
- TRICARE Retired ReserveA preimum-based plan for qualified Retired Reserve members and their families.TRICARE Retired Reserve
If your current TRICARE health plan coverage doesn’t automatically transition, contact the TRICARE contractor for your region. The are no changes to the TRICARE For LifeMedicare-wraparound coverage for TRICARE-eligible beneficiaires who have both Medicare Part A and B.TRICARE For Life (TFL) benefit. TFL beneficiaries will not have to take any action.
Automatic Enrollment of New Enrollees
New active duty service members are automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Prime Remote if they live in remote areas in the U.S. Stateside active duty family members (ADFMs) who become eligible for TRICARE on or after Jan. 1, 2018 will also be automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime if they live in a Prime Service Area. If family members live outside a Prime Service Area, they’ll be automatically enrolled in TRICARE Select. ADFMs who are automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select have up to 90 days after the eligibility date to change health plans.
TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP) ADFMs will be automatically enrolled in TRICARE Select. They will also have 90 days to change their enrollment to TOP Prime or Prime Remote if they are command sponsored.
This is Your Benefit! Are You Ready?
Enroll by Nov. 20, 2017 for Coverage Beginning Jan. 1, 2018
By Nov. 20, 2017, beneficiaries should complete any and all enrollment actions. During December 2017, there will be an enrollment freeze for TRICARE Prime enrollments, and a delay for primary care manager changes. You’ll still be able to receive care during the enrollment freeze. If you have a problem accessing care, contact your regional contractor.
For all other stateside beneficiaries, you’ll also need to complete any and all enrollment actions by Nov. 20, 2017 to ensure continued health coverage in 2018. As long as your regional contractor receives your completed enrollment application by the 20th of the month, your coverage will begin on the first day of the next month. The 20th of the month rule doesn’t apply to beneficiaries overseas, and will go away for everyone starting in 2018.
Enrolling is easy. You can enroll in certain TRICARE plans over the phone, email or mail. Check out how to enroll or purchase a plan.
Visit the TRICARE Changes page to stay informed with the latest information. You can also sign up for email alerts to get an email anytime new updates are available. Staying informed will help you take command of your health and prepare for changes in 2018.
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Setting goals, logging miles: how to train for a running eventRunners participate in the Mulberry Island Half Marathon at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, in September 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Natasha Stannard)FALLS CHURCH, Va. — From a 5K to a full marathon, new and experienced runners alike have one thing on their minds: crossing the finish line. To get there without injury, it’s important to set goals, use the right shoes, and practice good health habits.
“Training for a running event takes the right mindset,” said Lindsay Buckalew, chief of health promotion for Air Force Space Command. “Intent, or just the right mentality, is a huge motivating factor.”
Setting realistic goals can help maintain focus and motivation throughout the training process. Runners may decide to jump right into a training regimen, but a sudden increase in pace, intensity, or distance can lead to injuries, said Buckalew. No one is immune to injuries, even the most experienced of runners. Seeing a doctor, or even a sports medicine specialist, before starting a training plan is also recommended, he added. This is especially important for those with a pre-existing condition or prior injury.
Army Maj. Tyson Baynes, a physician assistant and deputy for the Army Traumatic Brain Injury Program, said runners should make a training plan that gradually builds mileage by no more than 10 percent each week. While a 5K may not require weeks of preparation, a full marathon should involve at least 20 to 24 weeks of running and cross training, Baynes added. If people haven’t been active in a while, or at all, they should ease into training.
“Know your limitations,” said Baynes. “We get in this mindset that more is better, but sometimes more is not better because it can lead to overuse injuries that impede training efforts and reduce race day performance.”
A plan that allows the gradual building of endurance, such as running for one minute and walking for a minute, can help prevent injuries, said Baynes. Even with shorter distances, runners are encouraged not to do more than three alternate days of running per week, 30 minutes per session, and 10 miles per week total as part of overall recommendations for injury prevention, said Buckalew.
Contrary to popular belief, training for a running event takes more than running. Cross training through various avenues, such as yoga, cycling, or swimming, helps build strength. Building various muscle groups will help runners in the long haul, said Baynes, who recommends cross training once or twice a week. These activities helps prevent overuse injuries from working the same muscle groups day after day.
Running doesn’t require a lot of specialized equipment, but having the right shoes can make a difference when logging miles, said Buckalew. Shoes should be replaced every 250 to 500 miles, or at least twice a year depending on how often they’re used. Some runners prefer to get fitted at a running or sporting goods store where knowledgeable staff can provide advice on form and shoes, he added.
Experienced runner and Navy Cmdr. Leslie Kindling ran track in high school and college, and started participating in road races as a graduate student. With races ranging from 1 mile to 100 miles under her belt, she’s learned one crucial lesson: Listen to your body.
“This is the only body you get, so treat it well now so it’ll treat you well later,” said Kindling, an aerospace and operational physiologist for the Navy. Soreness lasting more than two days, or pain that can be pinpointed to a specific location, can be warning signs for overuse injuries. “If it hurts two days in a row, you need to stop and figure out why, and then fix it.”
Muscles need time to rebuild after use, just as the body needs good nutrition and adequate sleep to recover. Staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, and eating a nutritious diet helps the body reach its full potential during training, said Buckalew.
“If people enjoy their running without injury and experience success early on in the training plan, they’ll be able to achieve more as they try to meet their goals,” said Buckalew, urging runners to relax and enjoy the challenge. “If you can decide you want to do this, there are resources out there to help you on your way to success.”
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New school year, same risk: don’t forget the sunscreenWhether at recess or recreational sports, children and teens are exposed to UV rays and it’s important to protect their skin throughout the school year. Experts recommend re-applying sunscreen after an hour and a half – especially while playing sports outside or swimming. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Kristen Wong)FALLS CHURCH, Va. — As summer winds down and school gets into full swing, it can be easy to cast aside sunscreen and sun protective gear. But remembering to protect children and teenagers from UV rays is as important throughout the school year as it is during the summer.
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Rachel Ellis, a dermatologist at Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, said starting daily skin care habits at an early age is essential – especially for the future. Skin damage from sun exposure can take months or years to show up, and much of it results from childhood. Making sunscreen application part of a child’s or teenager’s everyday routine, just like brushing teeth, can make a big difference.
“It’s really important when people are young to start those good habits and protect the skin as much as they can so that it will last them their entire lives,” said Ellis, adding that the skin is the body’s largest and most visible organ. “You’d do everything you can to protect your heart, why wouldn’t you do everything you can to protect your largest organ?”
Sun damage as a child or teenager can lead to health issues months or years after exposure, including diagnosis of skin cancer as early as in an adult’s 20s or early 30s, Ellis said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it takes only a few serious sunburns during childhood to increase a person’s risk for skin cancer.
While the sun’s rays may not feel hot during the school year, its UV rays can still cause damage – even in the winter. Keeping sunscreen readily available, whether in a backpack or locker, helps protect a child or teenager when they go to sports practice or spend recreational time outside, said Ellis.
Navy Cmdr. Christopher Dolan, chief of Fort Belvoir Community Hospital’s dermatology clinic in northern Virginia, recommends re-applying sunscreen after an hour and a half – especially while playing sports outside or swimming. Sun protective gear, which can often be found in sporting goods stores and surf shops, also works well for people who do not like to wear sunscreen regularly, he added.
“[For] children, and even adults, protective gear has gotten a lot better than it used to be,” said Dolan, adding that a lot of it is made with UV protection. This kind of gear can include long sleeves, pants, sunglasses, rash guards, and hats. When children wear this gear, the SPF remains 100 percent with them, Ellis said.
All skin types are vulnerable to sun damage, but children who have fair complexions, light-colored eyes, and are prone to freckling are at increased risk for it. Genetics, particularly if skin cancer runs in the family, can also increase risk. While vitamin D from sun is good for health, any change in pigment means UV damage, said Dolan. The skin has an immune system to help repair itself, but it can become stunned with too much sun damage, he added. Keeping the skin’s immune system strong with good daily habits is crucial for long-lasting health.
“I always tell my patients the best sunscreen in the world is the one that you like and the one that you will want to wear,” said Ellis. “The skin is kind of the window to the body. You need to take care of it.”
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