TRICARE Paper Claims and Forms Guide 2026

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## Quick answer Most TRICARE business has moved online, but paper is still required for manual medical claims, certain enrollment forms, and formal appeals. While the Defense Health Agency (DHA) encourages using the TOL Patient Portal or MHS GENESIS, beneficiaries can still request paper copies of records or mail physical claim forms to Humana Military (East) or TriWest (West).

In detail

In the TRICARE ecosystem, "paper" refers to physical documentation used for claims, medical records, and official correspondence. While the T-5 contract transition in 2025 pushed for "digital-first" interactions, several key areas still rely on physical paper.

### 1. Paper Claims (DD Form 2642) If you visit a non-participating non-network provider, you may have to pay the full cost upfront and file a paper claim for reimbursement. * **Form:** DD Form 2642 (Patient’s Request for Medical Payment). * **Mailing Addresses:** * **East Region:** Humana Military, P.O. Box 740062, Louisville, KY 40201. * **West Region:** TriWest Healthcare Alliance, P.O. Box 42049, Phoenix, AZ 85080. * **Overseas:** International SOS, P.O. Box 7901, Madison, WI 53707.

### 2. Paper Prescriptions While Express Scripts defaults to electronic prescribing (e-prescribing), paper prescriptions are still relevant: * **Retail Pharmacies:** You can take a physical paper script from your doctor to a network pharmacy (e.g., CVS, Walgreens). * **Home Delivery:** You can mail a paper prescription along with a specialized order form to Express Scripts, though online transfers are faster.

### 3. Medical Records and Privacy Under HIPAA, you have the right to a physical paper copy of your medical records. * **Cost:** Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) generally provide one paper copy of your records free of charge. Subsequent copies or large requests for non-medical reasons (like a legal case) may incur a "per-page" copying fee. * **DD Form 2870:** You must sign this paper form to authorize the release of your protected health information to third parties.

### 4. Correspondence and 1095 Forms By default, TRICARE and the IRS use digital delivery for tax forms. However, beneficiaries can opt-in via milConnect to receive a **paper Form 1095** (Proof of Health Coverage) via the U.S. Postal Service.

## Who this applies to * **TRICARE For Life (TFL) Users:** Often prefer paper Explanations of Benefits (EOB) for Medicare coordination. * **Remote/Overseas Beneficiaries:** May lack reliable internet and rely on paper DD Form 2642 for international reimbursements. * **Retirees:** Those who prefer physical 1095-C tax forms for annual filing. * **Active Duty Families:** When seeing out-of-network providers during travel, requiring manual claim filing.

Common scenarios

**Scenario 1: The Out-of-Network Specialist** Jane is on TRICARE Select in 2026. Data shows she visits a specialist who does not accept TRICARE. She pays the $200 bill out of pocket. She must download, print, and mail a **DD Form 2642** to TriWest. She receives a check for her covered amount (minus her deductible/copay) about three weeks later.

**Scenario 2: Moving to a Civilian Doctor** Mark is retiring from the Army in 2026. He goes to his MTF’s Records Department and submits **DD Form 2870**. Because he prefers a physical backup, the MTF prints 150 pages of his history. He carries this paper file to his new civilian Primary Care Manager (PCM) to ensure continuity of care.

**Scenario 3: Pharmacy Paper Script** Sarah's doctor's office has a system outage. Instead of e-prescribing, the doctor writes a physical paper script for a maintenance medication. Sarah takes that paper to an Express Scripts network pharmacy. The pharmacist manually enters the data to process her 2026 copay (typically $16 for a 30-day supply of brand-name formulary drugs at retail).

## Related terms * **DD Form 2642:** The official "Patient's Request for Medical Payment" used for all paper medical claims. * **EOB (Explanation of Benefits):** The document sent (via mail or digital) explaining what TRICARE paid and what the patient owes. * **Direct Deposit (EFT):** The electronic alternative to receiving a paper reimbursement check in the mail. * **MHS GENESIS:** The electronic health record system that replaced most paper record-keeping in military hospitals. * **T-5 Contract:** The latest regional contract (started Jan 2025) that emphasizes digital records but maintains paper claim pathways.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil Claims Guide:** https://www.tricare.mil/claims * **Humana Military (East Claims):** https://www.humanamilitary.com/beneficiary/claims * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Claims):** https://www.triwest.com/en/beneficiary/claims/ * **Express Scripts TRICARE Pharmacy:** https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/