Veteran Communication: 2026 TRICARE & VA Guide

## Quick answer Veteran communication refers to the structured process of accessing healthcare information, managing benefits, and contacting providers through official TRICARE and VA channels. Since the 2025 transition to the T-5 contract, veterans now communicate primarily through Humana Military (East), TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West), and the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal for medical records and secure messaging.

*Note: Army Knowledge Online AKO is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program or the Department of Veterans Affairs. For official policy and secure personal data, visit TRICARE.mil or VA.gov.*

In detail

Effective communication for veterans as of 2026 relies on navigating three distinct digital ecosystems: Regional Contractors, Pharmacy Services, and the Electronic Health Record (EHR).

### 1. Regional Contractor Communication (T-5 Contract) As of May 2026, the TRICARE regions are settled under the T-5 generation of contracts. Your primary point of contact for authorizations, referrals, and billing depends on your geography: * **TRICARE East:** Managed by **Humana Military**. Veterans use the Humana Military portal for claims tracking and provider directories. * **TRICARE West:** Managed by **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** (which officially assumed control from HNFS on January 1, 2025). Communication for West region veterans now flows through the TriWest self-service portal.

### 2. The MHS GENESIS Patient Portal The MHS GENESIS Patient Portal has replaced the old TOL Patient Portal. This is the primary "communication hub" for: * **Secure Messaging:** Emailing your primary care manager (PCM) or specialty team directly. * **Laboratory Results:** Viewing bloodwork and imaging reports. * **Prescription Renewals:** Communicating with the pharmacy to request refills.

### 3. Pharmacy Communications **Express Scripts** remains the sole manager for the TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery program. Effective for the 2026 plan year, veterans should utilize the Express Scripts mobile app for text alerts regarding medication shipments and copay changes.

## Who this applies to * **Retirees and Families:** Must utilize regional portals (Humana/TriWest) for specialty care authorizations and "Find a Doctor" tools. * **Medically Retired Veterans:** Rely on MHS GENESIS for ongoing care coordination between military treatment facilities (MTFs) and civilian providers. * **TRICARE For Life (TFL) Users:** Communicate primarily with Medicare, but use VA/TRICARE channels for pharmacy and secondary coverage questions. * **National Guard/Reserve (Gray Area):** Utilize TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) channels until reaching age 60, then transition to standard retiree communication pathways.

Common scenarios

### Scenario 1: Changing Providers in the West Region A retired Army Major living in Arizona needs to find a new cardiologist in 2026. Because they are in the West Region, they do **not** contact HNFS. They must log in to the **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** portal to use the "Provider Search" tool. Using an out-of-network provider without this communication could result in a 2026 TRICARE Select deductible of approximately $150 or higher.

### Scenario 2: Refilling Maintenance Medication A veteran in Georgia needs a refill for blood pressure medication. Instead of calling the local clinic, they use the **Express Scripts** mobile app. By choosing Home Delivery via communication in the app, their 2026 copay for a 90-day supply of a generic drug is significantly lower (typically around $13-$16) than if they communicated a "rush" request to a retail pharmacy (typically around $43-$48).

### Scenario 3: Checking Lab Results A veteran receives bloodwork at a Military Treatment Facility. Instead of waiting for a phone call, they log into **MHS GENESIS** using their DS Logon. They see their results within 24–48 hours and use the "Secure Messaging" feature to ask their doctor a follow-up question, avoiding a $0-$35 copay for an unnecessary office visit.

## Related terms * **DS Logon:** A secure identity credential used to log into various VA and DoD sites. * **T-5 Contract:** The fifth generation of TRICARE contracts that transitioned West region management to TriWest in 2025. * **MHS GENESIS:** The unified electronic health record system used across the DoD and VA. * **Authorizations:** A communication from your contractor (Humana/TriWest) confirming that a specific specialty service is covered. * **Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE):** The online tool used to update residency or family status that affects TRICARE eligibility.

## Sources * **TRICARE Official Site:** [https://www.tricare.mil](https://www.tricare.mil) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region):** [https://www.triwest.com](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military (East Region):** [https://www.humanamilitary.com](https://www.humanamilitary.com) * **MHS GENESIS Patient Portal:** [https://patientportal.mhsgenesis.health.mil](https://patientportal.mhsgenesis.health.mil)