Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

TRICARE

Does TRICARE Cover Doulas? What You Need to Know for Your Next Birth

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Does TRICARE pay for doulas?

Before I had my own children, I went through doula training and attended quite a few births. I absolutely loved it. When I had my first child, I had a doula at my birth.

Doulas can provide fantastic support for a woman during childbirth. According to DONA International, a doula is “a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their client before, during and shortly after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.”

A doula can be perfect for anyone, but it is pretty much a must for a military spouse giving birth without their spouse by their side. The question is, does TRICARE cover a doula? Yes, they do. They have since 2022 and just expanded overseas on January 1, 2025.

The TRICARE Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration (CBSD) includes certified non-medical labor doulas, certified lactation consultants, and certified lactation counselors. The certification and participation requirements were also updated on January 1st.

Which TRICARE do you need to receive this TRICARE benefit?

To receive these benefits, you will need to have:

  • TRICARE Prime
  • TRICARE Prime Remote
  • TRICARE Select

How do we use a doula with TRICARE?

If you would like to use a doula with TRICARE or any of the other CBSD benefits and you are stationed in the United States (CONUS), then you don’t need any referrals. However, if you have TRICARE Prime, you will need a referral from your PCM (Primary Care Manager) if you see a non-network provider. There could be extra charges if you apply without that referral.

If you are stationed overseas (OCONUS), you must register for the CBSD before getting services. You can do so through International SOS on the TRICARE Overseas website. Make sure to register as early as possible in your pregnancy. They will let you know within 14 days if they can find a TRICSRE-Authorized provider where you are stationed.

What else should you know about getting a Doula through TRICARE?

You must be at least 20 weeks pregnant to qualify for a doula. You also need to plan to give birth outside of a military hospital or clinic. And thirdly, you need to see a TRICARE authorized provider for your birth event.

As of January 1st, 2025, they will cover up to six hours of visits by a certified labor doula. These hours can be split into 15-minute increments. Then, you also get one untimed visit during the actual birth.

For more information, please visit the TRICARE Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration page.

Did You Know About These TRICARE Changes Coming in 2025?

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Did You Know About These TRICARE Changes Coming in 2025?

TRICARE changes are coming in 2025. Are you ready?

TRICARE is the healthcare program of the American military. And in 2025, TRICARE is making some significant changes that could affect you.

TRICARE in the US is divided into regions based on where you live. You will be in either TRICARE West or TRICARE East. This is where there are changes.

#1 Since each region has its own contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance will replace Health Net Federal Services, LLC in TRICARE West. Humana Military will stay the contractor in TRICARE East.

#2 Six states will be changing to TRICARE West. Those states are Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. If you are in any of those states, you will be moving from TRICARE East to TRICARE West.

The new contracts should begin January 1st, 2025.

What should you do to get ready for the TRICARE changes?

  • Make sure your information is updated in DEERS,
  • If you are in TRICARE West and make payments, make sure you update them to TriWest before or during Open Season.
  • If you are in any of the changing states, you will also need to make sure to change your payments to TriWest.
  • Make sure your providers are in-network for 2025.

Remember, too, that TRICARE’s Open Season is November 11th through December 10th, 2024. You can also visit the TRICARE website for more information on these changes or TRICARE information in general.

As a military spouse, it is always important to know your military benefits, including TRICARE. Know what type of TRICARE you have, what region you are in, and how much you may need to pay each month. TRICARE may cover certain items you are not aware of or may make changes that you need to know about. Be informed!

Going through a deployment? Looking for support? Check out my Deployment blog post section for posts all about getting through a deployment.

Changes to TRICARE Coming in 2024: What You Need to Know

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Changes to TRICARE Coming in 2024: What You Need to Know

Oh TRICARE, it’s our favorite, isn’t it? Well maybe, maybe not, but TRICARE is our military insurance and like it or not, TRICARE is here to stay.

The new year will bring changes to TRICARE

With a new year, there will be changes to TRICARE that you need to be aware of, especially if you live in one of the six states mentioned below. There will be a new contract for TRICARE known as T-5. According to TRICARE, the changes will improve the delivery, quality, and cost of healthcare services for service members, retirees, and their families.

States are moving

The BIGGEST change that you need to be aware of is that some states will be moving from TRICARE East to TRICARE West. In 2024, TRICARE will continue to have two regional contractors. Humana Military, or Humana Government Busines for TRICARE East, and TriWest Healthcare Alliance Corporation for TRICARE West. Currently, and through the end of 2023, Humana Military is the contractor for TRICARE East, and Health Net Federal Services is the contractor for TRICARE West.

You should know which region you are in based on the state that you live. However, if you live in these states:

  • Arkansas
  • Illinois
  • Louisiana
  • Oklahoma
  • Texas
  • Wisconsin

you will be changing from TRICARE East to TRICARE West. The changes will begin in January 2024, and if you are affected by them you should be notified of what you can expect.

Only certain TRICARE plans use regions:

  • TRICARE Prime
  • TRICARE Prime Overseas
  • TRICARE Select
  • TRICARE Select Overseas
  • TRICARE Young Adult
  • TRICARE Reserve Select
  • TRICARE Retired Reserve

If you do have one of these plans you can find out more information about regions on the TRICARE Region page.

Other positive changes to TRICARE coming in 2024 are:

  • More efficient referral transfers between the two regions 
  • Greater provider network flexibility
  • Improved beneficiary choice
  • Enhanced telehealth appointments

Hopefully, these changes to TRICARE make everything a bit better for everyone.

TRICARE Plans

There are actually quite a few different TRICARE plans depending on what you want to have, how your service member is serving, and active duty status. As you can see, there are many different TRICARE plans out there.

  • TRICARE Prime
  • TRICARE Prime Remote
  • TRICARE Prime Overseas
  • TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas
  • TRICARE Select
  • TRICARE Select Overseas
  • TRICARE For Life
  • TRICARE Reserve Select
  • TRICARE Retired Reserve
  • TRICARE Young Adult
  • TRICARE Plus
  • US Family Health Plan

If you are active duty, you can choose between TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select. Some families do this because of what they have access to or if they want to see a certain provider that wouldn’t be possible to see if they stayed on Prime. If you are overseas, you would of course need to use the Overseas options. As a National Guard family, we use TRICARE Reserve Select, and we would not be eligible for TRICARE Prime unless they are activated.

If you are unsure about what plans you can qualify for you, check out this nifty TRICARE Plan Finder. You enter your information and the results will tell you what you need to know.

How much does TRICARE cost?

Curious about TRICARE costs? Use this tool to figure out what they would be based on the type of TRICARE plan you have and your sponsor’s status.

There is a lot about TRICARE to be overwhelmed about, but reading up on the differences and using the tools that are provided can make things a little more clear. I have been using TRICARE for almost 18 years now and I still haven’t quite figured it out.

5 Misconceptions About Breastfeeding

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5 Misconceptions About Breastfeeding

This is a sponsored post! 

Before I ever had children, I knew I wanted to breastfeed once I had them. I was committed to doing this. But once my first baby was born, I realized that I had been wrong about some parts of breastfeeding.

I just assumed that because I wanted to breastfeed my son, and breastfeeding was natural, breastfeeding would be easy for us. That he would be born, I would start to nurse him, and everything would fall into place. In reality, things were more complicated than that.

5 Misconceptions About Breastfeeding

We eventually figured out how to make breastfeeding work, but not without help, many tears, and many frustrating nights.

Although many women do breastfeed successfully, there are many misconceptions about breastfeeding, here are five of them:

Breastfeeding will be easy since it is natural

As I mentioned above, I thought that since I wanted to breastfed so badly, things would work themselves out. In reality, breastfeeding doesn’t always come easy for everyone for many different reasons. A lactation consultant can be a great person to go to if you are struggling to get started with breastfeeding. Give yourself some time and patience and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

You won’t need a breast pump if you breastfeed

Did you know that with your TRICARE benefit you can receive a no-cost breast pump? You might be thinking you won’t need one if you are planning to breastfeed and be a SAHM. Or that you might not need one until the baby is a little older and you feel comfortable leaving them.

The truth is, a breast pump can be so helpful even in those early weeks. Breast pumps can build up an emergency supply of milk, relieve pain from engorgement, and help with your milk supply. Since you can easily order your breast pump through The Breastfeeding Shop, having one available to you from day one is a good idea.

The Breastfeeding Shop has many different choices of breast pumps, and you can easily order your pump through their app or online. You can also order your breast pump accessories or supplies through them. You can start by using their breast pump order form.

5 Misconceptions About Breastfeeding

You have to feed your newborn on a strict schedule

Feeding your baby on demand can be one way to feed your newborn. You don’t have to feed on a strict schedule. Your baby will give you cues to let you know when they are hungry. And in those first months, they will go through different growth spurts where they need to eat more than usual.

Not having your baby on a strict schedule doesn’t mean you can’t have a routine. Establishing routines with a baby can be very important. But not having too strict of a schedule with feeding can make the breastfeeding experience a little easier for everyone.

You can’t breastfeed and go back to work

You might be going back to work after your baby is born and not sure if you should continue to breastfeed. The truth is, you totally can. Going back to work doesn’t mean you have to stop breastfeeding. And can be another reason to order your TRICARE benefit breast pump.  Some breast pumps work better for everyday use than others so make sure to check into what the right breast pump would be for you.

You have to stop breastfeeding at a year

There is no rule that says you have to stop breastfeeding your baby at a year, or at nine months, or at six months. You need to do what works for you and your baby. Different people will have different comfort levels with how long they want to continue breastfeeding for.

Looking for more information on your TRICARE benefit breast pump? Here are some posts for you:

What You Need To Know About Ordering Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Accessories and Supplies

FAQs About Your TRICARE Benefit Breast Pump Through The Breastfeeding Shop

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby

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The Breastfeeding Shop

This is a sponsored post by the Breastfeeding Shop. 

How to Decide What Breast Pump is The Best One For You And Your Baby

Did you know that for every birth event (pregnancy or adoption,) you can receive a $0 breast pump with the TRICARE benefit? This started in 2014 and is a benefit you should make sure you use. The Breastfeeding Shop is the perfect place to get that breast pump. They will be able to help you get what you want and fill out all the paperwork to receive your pump.

The Breastfeeding Shop has a nice selection of breast pumps. Each one is a little different and one might be better for you than another based on your own needs. But how do you decide which one is best?

Here is how you can decide which breast pump is best for you and your baby.

How often will you use the pump?

Think about how often you will be using your pump. If you work outside the home, you might need a pump to use throughout the workday. If you are a stay at home mom, you will be using your pump at different times. You will want to get a pump that can keep up with your daily needs, whatever they might be.

Will you travel with the pump?

Some breast pumps are easier to travel with than others. If you will be taking your pump places, to work or on vacation, for example, you will want one that is made for easier travel. Some pumps have a battery option and that would be a must if you will be needing to use the pump places that don’t have an outlet.

A car adapter option is ideal if you will be PCSing across the country or like to go on a lot of car trips. This will make pumping on the road a lot easier for you. You will be able to pump for your baby even when you are on the road.

What type of suction do you need?

Different moms will have different needs when it comes to how strong the suction is on their breast pumps. If you are unsure about what you need or know you want something stronger, going with a pump with stronger suction options is a good idea. That way, you will be able to pump what you need for your baby. All of the pumps you can get through The Breastfeeding Shop have customizable suction options so you can control how strong the pump works for you.

Extra features

When you look at the different choices of breast pumps, you will find different features that may or may not be important to you. Features such as Bluetooth technology, a quieter pump, or being lightweight can help go into your decision for the right pump.

Please go to The Breastfeeding Shop and look at their comparison chart to decide which breast pump would be best for you. Once you decide, you can start the process of receiving your breast pump.

Have you received your no-cost breast pump yet?