TRICARE Sites: Military vs. Civilian Care Guide
In the TRICARE universe, "sites" typically refers to two distinct concepts: **Points of Service**, which are the actual physical locations where you receive care (Military Hospitals vs. Civilian Providers), and **TRICARE Online (TOL) / MHS GENESIS**, which are the digital web sites used to manage your healthcare. TRICARE.com is an independent reference site; for official government records and policy, visit [TRICARE.mil](https://www.tricare.mil).
In detail
TRICARE divides healthcare delivery into two primary "sites" of care: Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) and civilian network providers. Where you go depends on your plan and your beneficiary status.
### 1. Physical Care Sites: MTFs vs. Civilian Network * **Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs):** These are hospitals and clinics located on military installations. They are the primary site of care for TRICARE Prime enrollees. In an MTF, there are generally $0 out-of-pocket costs for active duty service members and their families (2026 rates). * **Civilian Network Providers:** These are private doctors and hospitals that have contracts with Humana Military (East Region) or TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region). TRICARE Select and TRICARE For Life beneficiaries primarily use these sites. * **Point of Service (POS) Option:** This allows TRICARE Prime enrollees to visit a non-network site without a referral, but it comes with a heavy $100 deductible and 50% cost-share (2026 rates).
### 2. Digital Sites: Patient Portals As of 2026, the transition to **MHS GENESIS** is complete across the enterprise. * **MHS GENESIS Patient Portal:** The primary digital site for viewing health records, scheduling appointments at MTFs, and messaging providers. * **Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE):** The site hosted by milConnect used to switch plans or update enrollment during Open Season. * **Contractor Portals:** Humana Military (East) and TriWest (West) maintain regional sites for tracking claims, checking referral status, and finding local network providers.
### 2026 Cost Comparison by Site Location | Feature | Military Hospital (MTF) | Civilian Network Provider | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Applicable Plan** | TRICARE Prime (Primary) | TRICARE Select / Prime Remote | | **Primary Care Copay** | $0 (2026) | $38 - $42 (Group A/B Select) | | **Specialist Copay** | $0 (2026) | $55 - $60 (Group A/B Select) | | **Referral Required?** | Yes (Primary Care Manager) | No (for most Select users) |
## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Must use MTF sites for all care unless a waiver or Prime Remote status is granted. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Can choose between MTF-based Prime (lower cost) or civilian-based Select (higher flexibility). * **Retirees and Families:** Have "space-available" access to MTF sites but generally rely on civilian network sites. * **TRICARE For Life (TFL) Users:** Primarily use civilian sites that accept Medicare, though they may use MTFs if space allows.
Common scenarios
**Scenario A: The Prime Family at an MTF** The Miller family is stationed at Fort Liberty. They are enrolled in TRICARE Prime and use the Womack Army Medical Center as their primary care **site**. For a routine checkup in 2026, their out-of-pocket cost is **$0**.
**Scenario B: The Select Retiree at a Civilian Site** John, a retired veteran in San Diego, uses TRICARE Select. He visits a local civilian specialist (Network Site) for a knee consultation. As a Group A retiree, his 2026 copay is approximately **$60**, and he does not need a referral from an MTF.
**Scenario C: Using the Digital Site for Refills** Sarah needs a maintenance medication. She logs into the **Express Scripts** site to move her prescription from a retail pharmacy site to Home Delivery. By using the Home Delivery site, she reduces her 90-day supply copay for a brand-name drug to **$38** (2026 rate).
## Related terms * **MTF (Military Treatment Facility):** A clinic or hospital operated by the Department of Defense. * **Network Provider:** A civilian provider who has agreed to TRICARE's contracted rates. * **MHS GENESIS:** The unified electronic health record portal for the military. * **Point of Service (POS):** An option to receive care at a non-assigned site for a higher cost. * **Catchment Area:** The geographic area (usually 40 miles) surrounding an MTF site.
## Sources * **TRICARE.mil official site:** [https://www.tricare.mil](https://www.tricare.mil) * **MHS GENESIS Portal:** [https://patientportal.mhsgenesis.health.mil](https://patientportal.mhsgenesis.health.mil) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region):** [https://www.triwest.com](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military (East Region):** [https://www.humanamilitary.com](https://www.humanamilitary.com)