TRICARE.com

TRICARE Search.Htm | Finding Coverage & Providers

Guide to using the TRICARE search.htm and centralized search tools to find 2026 coverage, provider directories, and policy manuals for military health.

TRICARE Search.Htm | Finding Coverage & Providers

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program or affiliated with the Department of Defense. For official policy and the primary search portal, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer "Search.htm" is the legacy URL extension used by the official TRICARE.mil website to direct users to its centralized search engine and document repository. It is the primary tool for beneficiaries to find specific covered services, policy manuals, and provider directories across the East and West regions.

## In detail The search functionality at TRICARE.mil (often ending in `search.htm`) serves as the digital gateway for the Defense Health Agency (DHA). Instead of browsing hundreds of static pages, users utilize this interface to query the TRICARE Policy Manuals and the "Is It Covered?" database.

### Core Search Functions Military families and retirees typically use the search interface for three primary reasons:

1. **Coverage Verification:** Checking if a specific procedure, such as "Physical Therapy" or "CPAP machines," is covered under TRICARE Prime or Select. 2. **Provider Search:** Accessing the localized directories for the regional contractors: * **East Region:** Managed by **Humana Military**. * **West Region:** Managed by **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** (as of the T-5 contract transition on Jan 1, 2025). 3. **Cost Lookups:** Finding the specific 2026 copayments or cost-shares based on beneficiary group (Group A or Group B).

### Searchable Policy Manuals For healthcare providers and administrative researchers, the search tool provides access to: * **TRICARE Policy Manual (TPM):** The "rulebook" for what is medically necessary. * **TRICARE Reimbursement Manual (TRM):** Information on how much TRICARE pays doctors for specific CPT codes. * **TRICARE Operations Manual (TOM):** Details on how the regional contractors (Humana and TriWest) must manage the benefit.

### 2026 Search Filter Categories When using the search tool, results are typically filtered by these categories to ensure accuracy: | Category | What it Provides | | :--- | :--- | | **Benefits** | Direct answers on coverage for specific illnesses or injuries. | | **Costs** | Links to the 2026 Cost Side-by-Side descriptions. | | **Forms** | Claims forms (DD Form 2642) and medical necessity forms. | | **Pharmacy** | Links to the **Express Scripts** formulary search tool. |

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Finding MTFs (Military Treatment Facilities) or authorized civilian specialty care. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Searching for local pediatricians or mental health providers in the TriWest or Humana networks. * **Retirees (Group A & B):** Looking up 2026 enrollment fees and catastrophic caps. * **Providers:** Searching for "Prior Authorization" requirements for specific procedure codes.

Common scenarios

**Scenario 1: Checking for a Specialist** Jane is a TRICARE Select beneficiary in Oregon (West Region). She uses the search tool to find the TriWest provider portal. She discovers that for a 2026 specialist visit, her network copay is **$38** (Group A retiree family member) or varies by specific plan—she confirms this via the "Search Costs" feature.

**Scenario 2: Searching for an Off-Label Drug** A retiree uses the search tool to find the "Express Scripts Formulary Search." They search for a specific brand-name medication and learn that in 2026, the copay for a 90-day supply via TRICARE Home Delivery is **$38** for brand-name formulary drugs.

**Scenario 3: Finding Urgent Care Rules** An Active Duty spouse searches "Urgent Care" to see if they need a referral. The search results clarify that TRICARE Prime enrollees (excluding ADSMs) can visit two network urgent care centers per year without a referral, while TRICARE Select enrollees have unlimited access with applicable 2026 cost-shares.

## Related terms * **MTF Locator:** The tool used to find the nearest Military Treatment Facility (clinic or hospital). * **Express Scripts Formulary:** The specific search engine for checking if a drug is covered and what it costs. * **Network Provider:** A doctor who has an agreement with Humana Military or TriWest to provide care at contracted rates. * **T-5 Contract:** The 2025/2026 regional contract structure that established TriWest as the West region manager. * **Group A vs. Group B:** The classification based on when the sponsor joined the military (Before or after Jan 1, 2018), which dictates search results for costs.

## Sources * TRICARE Official Search: [https://www.tricare.mil/Search.aspx](https://www.tricare.mil/Search.aspx) * Humana Military (East): [https://www.humanamilitary.com/](https://www.humanamilitary.com/) * TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West): [https://www.triwest.com/](https://www.triwest.com/) * TRICARE Policy Manuals: [https://manuals.health.mil/](https://manuals.health.mil/)