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TRICARE Open Season Announced With Planned Outages

Every fall, there is a window of eligibility for TRICARE enrollees to start or change plans without a “qualifying life event.” This is called the TRICARE Open Season, which begins on November 11, 2024.

It coincides with similar windows of opportunity under FEDVIP for federal benefits and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account open seasons. Fall is typically the time to add or change benefits options without having a marriage, birth, or death in the family or another qualifying life event.

Before the open season begins, beneficiaries should review the information listed in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System to ensure all contact information and beneficiaries are current.

TRICARE Outages Between October 25 and December 31, 2024

For Open Season in 2024, there are some scheduled outages and restrictions to be aware of. According to TRICARE.mil, “There will be limitations for beneficiaries from Oct. 25 to Dec. 31,”

The first is a “global enrollment freeze” for ALL TRICARE plan changes. That freeze–only scheduled for a few days–is effective from Oct. 25–27 2024.

“This means you won’t be able to update your information or change your plan. This freeze includes overseas and dental enrollments.” According to the official site, this scheduled outage is needed to update beneficiary information for TRICARE regional sites.

Read next: Active Duty Military Benefits Guide

The Second TRICARE Outage

Another planned outage occurs between Oct. 28 and Dec. 31, but this outage is more limited. Those living in the U.S. who need to make TRICARE changes must call their regional contractor between Oct. 28 and the end of the year. You cannot make TRICARE changes via the milConnect portal during this time.

During this outage, call your regional contractor if you want to:

  • Change your primary care manager;
  • Change your plan due to a Qualifying Life Event or
  • Change your plan during TRICARE Open Season.

During the outage, some features may still be available using milConnect, but “you may get a message that you need to call your regional contractor. If you go to a local Uniformed Services ID card office or call DMDC” to update your information, this is also true.

For Those Overseas

Those living overseas “can keep using milConnect as normal between Oct. 28 and Dec. 31 unless you’re transferring from the U.S. to an overseas location. To transfer from the U.S., you’ll need to contact International SOS.”

Contact Information for TRICARE Enrollment Changes Oct. 28 – Dec. 31

New TRICARE Enrollees

Those not currently enrolled in a TRICARE health plan who want to enroll between Oct. 28 and Dec. 31 can still do so using milConnect.

TRICARE Claims

The scheduled outages mentioned above affect TRICARE signups and changes. These outages do not affect TRICARE claims or decisions made about TRICARE claims. If you need to file a claim, see the official site to learn how to file a TRICARE claim overseas or stateside. See the TRICARE Forms page on the official site if you need a specific form as part of your claim.

Read next: Active Duty Military Benefits Guide

About the author

Editor-in-Chief | + posts

Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.