Tricare Beneficiaries Can Get Benefit News by E-mail

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 21, 2008 - The Tricare military health system's 9.2 million beneficiaries now have an easy way to receive the latest newsletters and stay informed about changes in coverage, pharmacy updates and other news. A new electronic delivery system is up and running, Tricare officials said, and subscribing is fast and secure by clicking on the "little red envelope" on Tricare's Web site, www.tricare.mil.

"We're excited to offer beneficiaries a chance to sign up for the Tricare benefit news they want and need," said Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, deputy director of Tricare Management Activity. "We have offered some limited e-mail delivery options in the past, but this new subscription service enables anyone interested in Tricare news to sign up for a wide range of topics. It's one-stop shopping."

Subscribers can choose alerts by topics or beneficiary category, and delivery is safe and secure – an e-mail address is the only information collected. Subscribers also have a unique page they can manage any time, and they can choose to be notified as soon as news or benefit changes are posted, or select daily, weekly or monthly updates.

"One of our highest priorities is communicating with our beneficiaries and providers," Granger said. "E-mail is now the method most people use to receive news, and that will only continue to increase. This new service helps us take advantage of the technology."

The new subscription service also links users up to similar alerts available on other military Health System Web sites, including www.health.mil, which features MHS news, debates, videos and blogs, as well as Force Health Protection and Readiness and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Partnership subscription options with other health-related federal Web sites include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DisabilityInfo.gov.

Tricare's e-alerts are sent through GovDelivery, which also provides services to dozens of other Defense Department and federal agencies including the FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration.

(From a Tricare Management Activity news release.)