It is natural and common for military personnel to seek medical assistance for themselves or for any member of their family in case of medical emergency.  However, TRICARE urges military service members to consider about preventative care that is as important as treating an illness successfully. Preventative care is also important to maintain a healthy life and protect yourself and your family from potential health issues.

TRICARE Standard Beneficiary Program

TRICARE is offering support to military service members in their efforts to maintain good health. TRICARE is offering this support by lowering the costs of preventative medical care. These services are being provided in the TRICARE Standard beneficiary program. In the year 2009, TRICARE eliminated cost sharing feature for preventative services like well care visits, cancer screenings and immunizations. A comprehensive list was issued by TRICARE that contains the details of cost-share free screenings that are being offered to the TRICARE Standard military beneficiaries.

TRICARE for Prostate Cancer Screening

All male military personnel of age 40 and above are strongly encouraged to undergo prostrate examination on annually basis. They are also encouraged to take specific antigen (PSA) tests.

TRICARE for Breast and cervical Cancer Screenings

Military women are required to undergo annual mammograms and breast examination. This is required to women who are over the age of 40 and are being covered by TRICARE. Military women who are below 40 and have any breast cancer patient in their families are encouraged to consult with doctors about their physical exam. Those military women who are sexually active from the age 18 and above are encouraged to undergo cervical cancer screening pelvic exams and Pap tests. Chain smokers are strongly encouraged to undergo these tests and screenings because they are at high risks.

TRICARE for Colorectal Cancer Screenings

Those military members that are of age 40 or above are protected by TRICARE. Besides, military members of age 50 and above are recommended to undergo fecal occult blood testing on annual basis.

They should undergo proctosigmoidoscopy or sigmodoscopy every three to five years and for colonoscopy in every ten years. For younger military personnel early screening is recommended, especially to those who have a family history of colorectal cancer.

Well Child Care by TRICARE

TRICAE well child benefit offers protection for children up to age 6. This offers routine child care. TRICARE provides coverage to well child visits including disease prevention exam, immunizations, health promotion exams, four year exams at the time of birth, 6 months, and 2 between the age of 3 and 6, and developmental diagnosis.

TRICARE for Immunizations

TRICARE provides coverage for all immunizations that are recommended by the CDCP. These immunizations include routine vaccination like diphtheria-pertussis-uberclosis, measles-mumps-rubella, flu, chicken pox, Non-routine vaccination for human papillomavirus and shingles, pneumonia, and H1N1.

Contact TRICARE for Administering Locations

In order to find the administering locations for vaccination for seasonal flue, pneumonia, or H1N1 vaccines, contact your local TRICARE retail network pharmacy to know whether vaccine is in stock or not. You can find a member retail network pharmacy by calling Express Scripts at their number 877-363-1303.