TRICARE service center closing

Published Feb. 28, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Ariel D. Delgado
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Laughlin Tricare Service Center in the medical clinic will be closing April 1, saving the Department of Defense $250 million and giving more care to customers.

Services can be obtained over the phone or online, not limiting customers to limited business hours.

This center is one of the 189 centers closing in the 50 states. This change does not affect any TRICARE benefits or health care services.

"The DoD is making it easier for our patients," said Col. Michael Patronis, 47th Medical Group commander, "Now they can receive service 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the convenience of their own home whether they call or go online. If this goes well, I relate it to depositing checks electronically through a Smartphone, as we will now be transferring TRICARE enrollment via an 800 service."

The intent of this change is to keep up with the technology advances as it is more common for TRICARE beneficiaries to turn to a laptop or cell phone when they have questions.

"Most civilian health insurance companies don't have walk-in centers," said 2nd Lt. Danielle Griffith, 47th Medical Group TRICARE Operations and Patient Administration flight commander. "The patients normally call their insurance companies or go online, which is the approach TRICARE is taking."

By eliminating walk-in customer service at TSCs, the Department of Defense estimates savings of approximately $50 million per year for the next five years.

The Laughlin Medical Clinic patients still have a wide variety of secure, electronic customer service options available through TRICARE's website.

For more information, call 1-800-444-5445 or visit www.tricare.mil