TRICARE West States List: 2026 Regional Guide
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## Quick answer As of 2026, the TRICARE West Region includes 26 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas (specifically the Western areas), Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Since January 1, 2025, the regional contractor managing this area is **TriWest Healthcare Alliance**.
Details
The TRICARE West Region spans a massive geographic area, covering the Western United States and parts of the Midwest. Under the current "T-5" contract, there are two primary regions in the continental U.S.: East and West.
### Complete List of TRICARE West States The following states are part of the West Region: * Alaska * Arizona * California * Colorado * Hawaii * Idaho * Iowa * Kansas * Minnesota * Missouri (except for the St. Louis area, which is part of the East Region) * Montana * Nebraska * Nevada * New Mexico * North Dakota * Oklahoma * Oregon * South Dakota * Texas (Western areas including El Paso, Amarillo, and Lubbock) * Utah * Washington * Wyoming
### Recent Changes (2025-2026) Effective January 1, 2025, the West Region underwent a significant transition. **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** took over as the regional contractor, replacing Health Net Federal Services (HNFS). Additionally, six states that were formerly in the East Region—Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin—moved or stayed aligned during various contract shifts. Currently, ensure you verify your specific zip code if you live on the border of the East/West divide in Texas or Missouri.
### Plan Availability in the West Beneficiaries in these states typically choose from: * **TRICARE Prime:** HMO-style plan. Retirees pay an annual enrollment fee (e.g., $391.92 per individual for Group A retirees in 2026). * **TRICARE Select:** PPO-style plan offering more flexibility with doctors. * **TRICARE For Life:** For those with Medicare Part A and B.
Regardless of your state, the pharmacy benefit is managed globally by **Express Scripts**, not the regional contractor.
### Contacting the Regional Contractor If you live in the states listed above, you must coordinate your authorizations, referrals, and enrollment through TriWest Healthcare Alliance. For 2026, you can reach them at their dedicated TRICARE West portal (triwest.com).
## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Stationed at West Region installations. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Living in the West Region. * **Retirees and their Families:** Living in any of the 26 states listed. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) or TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) within these states. * **Survivors and Medically Retired:** Beneficiaries residing in the Western U.S.
## Sources 1. TRICARE.mil - Regions: https://www.tricare.mil/About/Regions 2. TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Contractor): https://www.triwest.com 3. Defense Health Agency (T-5 Contract Information): https://health.mil 4. TRICARE.mil - Plan Finder: https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/PlanFinder