Tricare Launches New Prime Option in Atlanta and Tampa for 150,000 Beneficiaries

In 2025, approximately 150,000 Tricare beneficiaries residing in the Atlanta, Georgia, and Tampa, Florida, metropolitan regions will have the opportunity to access a new Prime option as part of a demonstration project by the Defense Health Agency.

CareSource Military and Veterans Co., located in Dayton, Ohio, is set to oversee the network of primary and specialty providers. In November 2024, the company secured $110 million in contracts to manage three-year pilot programs in two metropolitan regions.

Participants who qualify consist of active-duty family members, family members of activated National Guard or Reserve members, retirees along with their families, survivors who are not eligible for Medicare, and individuals in the Transitional Compensation Program. Enrollment opens during the designated period from Nov. 10 to Dec. 9, with coverage set to commence on Jan. 1.

In an exciting development, retirees, along with their families and survivors, will enjoy waived enrollment fees for the first year. Active-duty troops, along with their family members and transitional survivors, currently do not incur any enrollment fees for Tricare Prime. The Defense Health Agency has indicated that the fee schedules for 2026 will be revealed at a later date.

In 2025, the annual enrollment fees for retirees in Group A, specifically those whose sponsors began their service before January 1, 2018, will be set at $372 for individuals and $744 for families. Participants in Base Prime will see no changes to their benefits and copays; however, opting for services outside the CareSource network will result in increased copays.

“The Tricare Prime Demo showcases a forward-thinking strategy aimed at improving access to care, enriching the patient experience, and pursuing superior health outcomes,” stated Dr. David Krulak, director of the Tricare Health Plan at DHA. “The information gathered from this demonstration will guide future innovations in Tricare across the country.”

A significant aspect of the program is that beneficiaries will no longer require referrals for in-network specialty care, a modification that DHA officials claim responds to frustrations that have arisen since the implementation of the latest Tricare contracts in 2025. CareSource representatives stated that their provider network is tailored specifically for the 150,000 individuals covered.

“Our provider network is being developed with the specific aim of supporting all 150,000 [beneficiaries],” stated Ted Painter, associate vice president at CareSource Military and Veterans and a Marine Corps Reserve sergeant major. “Our focus is on ensuring we are thoroughly ready for these two areas, both in terms of customer service and provider network.”

Geographic eligibility reaches beyond the urban hubs into the adjacent rural regions. Officials have announced that a new tool will be integrated into Tricare. Mil is approaching the open season, aimed at assisting beneficiaries in verifying their eligibility.

Atlanta lacks a military treatment facility, whereas Tampa's facility is often difficult for families to access because of traffic and distance. In the demonstration, beneficiaries will exclusively utilize military hospitals during emergencies. They will not have access to the Humana Military Tricare provider network, which remains available to others in the two regions.

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