Military health care deadlines looming

Don’t let some important dates affecting your military health care slip by in the midst of the busy holiday season.

Dec. 13: Tricare open season ends. It applies to anyone enrolled in or eligible for a Tricare Prime option or Tricare Select.

This is the only time of year when you can make changes to — or enroll in — Tricare Prime or Tricare Select, outside of a qualifying life event such as marriage, birth of a baby, or retirement from active duty. You can also switch plans entirely. Changes you make go into effect Jan. 1, 2022. Visit www.tricare.mil/openseason.

Dec. 13: Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program open season also ends Dec. 13. Most military retirees and their family members are eligible for dental and vision coverage under FEDVIP, which is administered by the Office of Personnel Management.

Active duty family members, reservists and their family members are among those eligible specifically for the vision coverage under FEDVIP. Visit www.benefeds.com.

Dec. 15: The more than 5,300 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies will leave the Tricare network as of Dec. 15. There are more than 59,000 pharmacies in the Tricare retail pharmacy network. CVS pharmacies return to the Tricare network on Dec. 15, after a five-year hiatus. There are nearly 10,000 CVS pharmacy locations, including many inside Target stores.

More In Mil Money

Pentagon’s top general pledges ‘a hard look’ at troops’ current housing allowance levels

Senior defense officials are paying attention to the adverse effects the high costs of housing are having on troops.

Military Space-A travel is back after 2-year COVID-19 pause

Masks will still required in Department of Defense terminals and on airplanes.

Charity event will bring free ball gowns to 600 military families. Sign up now.

Operation Deploy Your Dress will hold a 'pop-up' event April 30 with free dresses for about 600 military customers.

Doorstep deliveries starting June 1 for these 8 military commissaries

The delivery fee for commissary groceries will generally be less than $4, in addition to cost of groceries, plus 5% surcharge and any driver tip.

Beware of new fraudulent ‘fraud alerts’

Criminals are getting slicker about getting access to your hard-earned money.

In Other News

Small wins buoy Ukraine; West says Russians losing momentum

“Ukraine can win this war,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.

This week in Congress: UFO debate flies into Capitol Hill

Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of May 16, 2022.

Finland to seek NATO entry in ‘new era’ amid Russia’s war

Finland’s president and government have announced that the Nordic country intends to apply for membership in NATO.

Okinawa marks 50 years of end to US rule amid protests

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has urged Japan’s central government to do more to reduce the U.S. military presence in the southern island group.

Prosecutors: enlisted leader sexually harassed, engaged in ‘sexual activity’ with junior sailors

Th enlisted leader of Information Warfare Training Command Monterey is facing court-martial.

Navy effort to cancel LCS mission package triggers new cost breach

A decision to cancel the technically challenged ASW mission package raised the per-unit cost overall for the mission modules program, resulting in a Nunn-McCurdy breach the Navy reported to Congress May 13.

The Navy doesn’t want nukes on ships, despite interest from some combatant commanders

The Navy says forcing surface ships or attack submarines to haul around nuclear-tipped missiles would be feasible, but would be a burden in a time with many more pressing missions and no extra money to spare on lesser priorities.

Pentagon chief talks to Russian counterpart for first time since Ukraine war began

This is the first conversation between the two defense chiefs since Feb. 18, a week before the war started.

Russia takes losses in failed river crossing, officials say

Russia lost significant numbers of troops and important equipment when Ukrainian forces thwarted their attempt to cross a river in the east, British officials said.

Turkey’s leader opposes letting Finland, Sweden join NATO

The Turkish leader explained his opposition by alleging that Sweden and other Scandinavian countries support Kurdish militants and others whom Turkey considers to be terrorists. He also accused Greece of using the alliance against Turkey.

Load More