TRICARE Online Education & Health Resources Guide

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program or the Defense Health Agency. For official policy and enrollment, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer TRICARE does not provide or fund "online education" for degrees or certifications; rather, the program utilizes online educational platforms to help beneficiaries manage their healthcare, understand benefits, and participate in wellness programs. If you are seeking tuition assistance for online college, you must use Department of Defense (DoD) programs like the GI Bill or Tuition Assistance (TA) rather than your health insurance.

## In detail While TRICARE is a health insurance provider and not an educational institution, online education plays a critical role in how the program operates in 2026. Beneficiaries interact with online educational resources in three primary categories:

### 1. Health Education and Disease Management TRICARE regional contractors—**Humana Military** (East) and **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** (West)—provide online health education modules. These are designed to help members manage chronic conditions without needing an in-person office visit for every question. * **Self-Paced Courses:** Online modules for diabetes management, smoking cessation, and heart health. * **Webinars:** Live and recorded sessions on nutrition, stress management, and postpartum care. * **Mental Health Resources:** Online educational tools via platforms like Telemynd or Doctor on Demand (depending on plan and region).

### 2. Provider and Member Policy Training Because TRICARE rules (like Referrals and Authorizations) can be complex, the Defense Health Agency (DHA) maintains a library of online briefings. * **TRICARE 101:** Online videos explaining the difference between TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select. * **Transition Briefings:** Mandatory online education for those transitioning from Active Duty to Retirement (STAMP briefings). * **Provider Education:** Online portals where civilian doctors learn how to bill TRICARE and follow Defense Health Agency clinical guidelines.

### 3. Online Education & The Pharmacy Benefit **Express Scripts**, the pharmacy benefit manager, provides an online "Health Education Center." This allows beneficiaries to: * Search for drug interactions. * Complete online tutorials on using specialized medical equipment (e.g., insulin pens). * Learn about cost-saving measures through the TRICARE Home Delivery program.

### TRICARE vs. VA Educational Benefits It is a common point of confusion for new members. Here is how they differ:

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Required to complete online overseas suitability briefings if moving to an international location. * **Retirees:** Must use online educational tools to understand the transition to TRICARE For Life (TFL) and Medicare Part B. * **Chronic Disease Patients:** Beneficiaries with asthma, COPD, or diabetes may be prescribed "educational health goals" via the online contractor portals. * **New Spouses:** Military spouses often use the TRICARE "Newcomer’s Guide" online to understand how to enroll children in DEERS.

Common scenarios

**Scenario 1: Managing a New Diagnosis** John, a TRICARE Select enrollee in the West Region (TriWest), is diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in 2026. Instead of paying a $38 copay (2026 Group A rate) for every nutritional consultation, he logs into the TriWest portal and completes a free 4-week online diabetes education course.

**Scenario 2: Pre-Retirement Education** Sarah is retiring after 20 years of service. She is required to view an online TRICARE University briefing. This "online education" ensures she understands that she must take action to enroll in a retiree plan within 90 days of her retirement date to avoid a gap in coverage.

**Scenario 3: Pharmacy Savings** A beneficiary uses the Express Scripts online portal to watch a tutorial on the "formulary search tool." By educating themselves online, they find that their medication is a "Non-Formulary" drug costing $68 for a 30-day supply, but a "Generic" alternative is only $13 at home delivery (2026 projected rates).

## Related terms * **DEERS:** The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System; the database that proves you are eligible for TRICARE. * **Telehealth:** Real-time medical appointments via video, often confused with online education modules. * **Briefings:** Scheduled or on-demand educational presentations regarding benefits (e.g., Retiree, Moving, or Marriage). * **T-5 Contract:** The 5th generation of TRICARE contracts which, as of 2025/2026, mandated improved online self-service and educational tools for the West Region via TriWest.

## Sources * **TRICARE Official Site:** https://www.tricare.mil * **Humana Military (East):** https://www.humanamilitary.com * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** https://www.triwest.com * **Express Scripts TRICARE:** https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com