TRICAREsmart: Guide to TRICARE Publications & Forms

*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not an official government platform. For official policy and the latest updates, please visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer **TRICAREsmart** is the official online portal (maintained by the Defense Health Agency) that allows beneficiaries to view, download, and print all TRICARE educational materials. Instead of waiting for brochures to arrive in the mail, you can access current plan descriptions, cost sheets, and benefit updates directly via the [TRICARE.mil/publications](https://tricare.mil/publications) search tool.

In detail

TRICAREsmart functions as a centralized digital library. Because TRICARE policies, regional contractors, and copayment rates change annually, this portal ensures that families have access to the most recent "Plan Vouchers" and "Benefit Fact Sheets" without relying on outdated printed manuals.

### Key features of the TRICAREsmart system: * **Searchable Database:** You can filter materials by plan name (e.g., TRICARE Prime, Select, For Life), beneficiary category (Active Duty, Retiree), or specific topics (Pharmacy, Dental, Maternity). * **Regional Specifics:** Since the 2025 transition to the T-5 contract, the portal provides specific handbooks for the **East Region (Humana Military)** and the **West Region (TriWest Healthcare Alliance)**. * **Language Support:** Many TRICAREsmart publications are available in translated versions, including Spanish, to support a diverse force. * **Toolkit Access:** For providers and military commands, it offers "Briefing Toolkits" to help explain benefits to troops before deployment or during retirement transitions.

### 2026 Core Publications As of 2026, the most critical documents available on TRICAREsmart include: 1. **The TRICARE Choices Directory:** A high-level overview of how to choose between Prime and Select. 2. **Costs and Fees Fact Sheet:** The definitive guide for 2026 enrollment fees, catastrophic caps, and copayments. 3. **Pharmacy Programs Handbook:** Details on Express Scripts home delivery and retail pharmacy rules. 4. **The West Region Transition Guide:** Essential for those in the West Region adjusting to the TriWest Healthcare Alliance management.

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Use it to understand TAMP (Transitional Assistance) or specialty care referrals. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Access the "Maternity Care" or "Special Needs" (EFMP) brochures. * **Retirees:** Essential for tracking the 2026 retiree enrollment fees and understanding TRICARE for Life (TFL) updates. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Access handbooks for TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) and TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR). * **Providers:** Use the portal to download clinical forms and referral guidelines.

Common scenarios

**Scenario 1: Comparing 2026 Costs** John, a Group A retiree in the East Region (Humana Military), wants to know his 2026 copay for a primary care visit. He visits TRICAREsmart, downloads the "2026 Costs and Fees Fact Sheet," and quickly sees his copay is $38 for a TRICARE Select network visit.

**Scenario 2: Moving Regions** Sarah is an Active Duty spouse moving from Florida (East) to California (West). She uses TRICAREsmart to download the West Region "Welcome Map" and the TriWest Healthcare Alliance guide to understand how her PCM enrollment will change once she crosses into the new regional jurisdiction.

**Scenario 3: Medicare Transition** An Air Force veteran turning 65 searches TRICAREsmart for "TRICARE For Life." He downloads the TFL Handbook, which explains how his benefits will coordinate with Medicare Part B in 2026.

## Related terms * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** The federal agency that manages TRICARE and oversees the TRICAREsmart portal. * **T-5 Contract:** The fifth generation of TRICARE contracts, which moved the West Region to TriWest Healthcare Alliance in 2025. * **Summary of Benefits:** A standardized document found on TRICAREsmart that outlines what a specific plan covers. * **DEERS:** The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System; while TRICAREsmart provides the info, DEERS is the system that proves you are eligible to use it. * **Express Scripts:** The pharmacy benefit manager whose specific mail-order guides are hosted on TRICAREsmart.

## Sources * TRICARE Publications Portal (TRICAREsmart): [https://tricare.mil/publications](https://tricare.mil/publications) * Defense Health Agency: [https://health.mil](https://health.mil) * TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region Contractor): [https://www.triwest.com](https://www.triwest.com) * Humana Military (East Region Contractor): [https://www.humanamilitary.com](https://www.humanamilitary.com)