VA Healthcare vs. TRICARE: How to Use Both Plans
*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program. For official policy, visit TRICARE.mil.*
## Quick answer VA Healthcare and TRICARE are two separate systems: the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides care for veterans, while the Department of Defense (DoD) provides TRICARE for active duty and retirees. If you are eligible for both, you can use them together, but you must choose which benefit to use for each individual medical visit or prescription.
## Details While both systems serve the military community, they operate under different federal departments with different rules. Understanding how they interact is essential for maximizing your benefits without incurring unexpected costs.
### Can you have both VA and TRICARE? Yes. Many military retirees are eligible for both TRICARE (as retired military) and VA Healthcare (based on veteran status or service-connected disability). * **Dual Eligibility:** You can maintain both coverages. * **Service-Connected Injuries:** Usually, you will use VA benefits for care related to service-connected disabilities to minimize out-of-pocket costs. * **General Care:** You can use TRICARE for family care or non-service-connected issues if you prefer a civilian provider within the TRICARE network (Humana Military in the East; TriWest in the West).
### How Billion-Dollar Coordination Works If you use both, the two systems do not "coordinate benefits" like traditional private insurance. * **No Double Dipping:** You cannot use TRICARE to pay the copayments required by the VA. * **The Choice:** When you see a doctor, you must declare which benefit you are using at the time of service. * **Pharmacy:** You can fill prescriptions through the VA or the TRICARE/Express Scripts system. For 2026, TRICARE Pharmacy copays (e.g., $16 for brand-name formulary at retail) apply if you use the TRICARE benefit, whereas VA pharmacy costs depend on your VA priority group.
### VA Providers as TRICARE Network Providers In some regions, VA medical centers act as "TRICARE network providers." This means a TRICARE Prime enrollee might be referred to a VA facility for specialty care. In this specific case, the VA is treated as any other network hospital, and TRICARE rules/authorizations apply.
### T-5 Contract and the West Region As of 2026, **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** is the contractor for the TRICARE West Region. TriWest also has a long history of managing the VA's Community Care Network (CCN). While TriWest manages both, the systems remain legally and financially distinct. If you are in the West Region, ensure your provider knows whether you are visiting under a TRICARE authorization or a VA Community Care referral.
## Who this affects * **Retired Service Members:** The primary group eligible for both systems. * **Medal of Honor Recipients:** And their families, who often have unique eligibility. * **Disabled Veterans:** Those with 100% service-connected ratings often use VA for their own care and TRICARE (CHAMPVA is a different program, but related) for families. * **Active Duty:** Usually only use VA facilities if there is a specific resource-sharing agreement in place between a base and a VA hospital.
## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Using TRICARE and VA Benefit Together](https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/OHI/VA) * **VA.gov:** [VA Health Care and Other Insurance](https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-care/va-health-care-and-other-insurance/) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [TRICARE West Region Provider Information](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military:** [East Region Benefits Coordination](https://www.humanamilitary.com)