If you're planning to or have recently moved to another duty station, you not only have a new community, but you may have a new regional TRICARE contractor managing your health care benefits.

Rest assured, though, no matter what TRICARE program you're using, your benefits are portable.

Here are some suggestions:

•  Get routine care prior to your move, because routine care isn't covered on the road if you're enrolled in TRICARE Prime.
•  Update your address, e-mail and phone numbers in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) within 30 days of moving. The easiest way is to visit the identification card office.

Log onto TRICARE's Beneficiary Web Enrollment site at www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/bwe/. Transfer your enrollment and request a new primary care manager by completing a TRICARE Prime Enrollment Application and PCM Change Form (DD Form 2876) for yourself and each family member.

If moving to a TRICARE Prime Remote location, switch your enrollment by submitting a new DD Form 2876. The enrollment transfer takes effect for your family after your new regional contractor receives the form.

TRICARE Prime enrollments are portable for both active-duty and retired families. Retirees can transfer enrollments twice in a year; the second move has to be back to the original region.

Before you move, you do not need to disenroll from TRICARE Prime or Prime remote. If you voluntarily move to a non-Prime area, you might be locked out of Prime coverage for up to a year.

Prime-enrolled retirees who pay their enrollment fees by allotment, electronic funds transfer or recurring credit card payments should contact their new regional contractor to ensure that those payments are transferred to that new contractor. TriWest, the west region contractor, can be reached at 1-888-TRIWEST (874-9378).

If you are visiting www.triwest.com, don't forget to register and sign up for QuickAlert, TriWest's automated authorization and referral status notification system for beneficiaries living in TRICARE's west region. QuickAlert e-mails provide notices that your request has been processed and provide, links for you to view the result online.