TRICARE Phone Numbers: Who to Call in 2026

While TRICARE is a massive global system, most beneficiaries only need four main numbers: the Nurse Advice Line for medical questions, Express Scripts for prescriptions, Humana Military if you live in the East, and TriWest if you live in the West. *Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program; visit TRICARE.mil for official policy and secure portals.*

## Quick answer The most important phone numbers depend on where you live and what you need. For 24/7 medical advice, call the Nurse Advice Line at **1-800-TRICARE (874-2273)**. For plan-specific billing or referrals, East Region members call Humana Military (**1-800-444-5445**) and West Region members call TriWest (**1-888-TRIWEST**).

In detail

Managing your TRICARE benefits requires knowing which "gatekeeper" handles your specific region or service. Effective January 1, 2025, the T-5 contract changed the West Region contractor to TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

### Regional Contractors (Claims, Billing, and Referrals) Your regional contractor is your primary point of contact for finding a doctor, checking the status of a referral, or disputing a 2026 copayment. * **TRICARE East (Humana Military):** 1-800-444-5445 * **TRICARE West (TriWest Healthcare Alliance):** 1-888-TRIWEST (1-888-874-9378) * **TRICARE Overseas (International SOS):** Country-specific numbers vary; generally +1-215-942-8393 for the Eurasia-Africa area.

### Pharmacy and Dental Benefits Standard medical contractors do not handle prescriptions or dental care. These are managed by separate entities: * **Express Scripts (Pharmacy):** 1-877-363-1303. Use this for home delivery orders or specialty medication questions. * **TRICARE Dental Program (United Concordia):** 1-844-653-4061. This applies to active duty family members and Guard/Reserve members. * **FEDVIP Dental/Vision (BENEFEDS):** 1-877-888-FEDS (3337). This applies to retirees.

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members:** Use the Nurse Advice Line and DEERS support to ensure readiness and enrollment. * **Active Duty Family Members:** Primary contact is the Regional Contractor (Humana or TriWest) for specialist referrals. * **Retirees:** Use BENEFEDS for dental/vision and their Regional Contractor for TRICARE Select or Prime. * **Guard/Reserve:** Use the Regional Contractor for TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) enrollment and billing.

Common scenarios

**Scenario 1: After-Hours Fever** An ADOS spouse in Virginia (East Region) has a child with a fever at 11:00 PM. They call the **Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-874-2273**. The nurse provides self-care instructions or authorizes an urgent care visit, ensuring the $0 copay for active duty families remains valid.

**Scenario 2: Moving from California to Texas** A retiree moves from San Diego to Dallas in 2026. Because they are moving from the West Region (TriWest) to the East Region (Humana), they must call **Humana Military at 1-800-444-5445** to update their enrollment and set up new 2026 allotment payments for TRICARE Prime enrollment fees.

**Scenario 3: Missing Prescription** A veteran in Arizona (West Region) is missing a shipment of maintenance medication. They should **not** call TriWest. They call **Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303** to track the package or request a temporary local fill.

## Related terms * **DEERS:** The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System; the database that proves you are eligible for TRICARE. * **T-5 Contract:** The current regional contract structure that began in 2025, defining Humana and TriWest's responsibilities. * **Referral:** Reauthorization from your primary doctor (and regional contractor) to see a specialist. * **Express Scripts:** The private company that manages the TRICARE pharmacy benefit. * **Nurse Advice Line (NAL):** A free service staffed by registered nurses who provide medical guidance.

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