Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110

§1097d Tricare Program: Notice of Change to Benefits

Title 10 › Subtitle A — General Military Law › PART II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 55 — MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE › § 1097d

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must notify TRICARE beneficiaries who could be affected when a major change is made to TRICARE benefits. The notice must be sent electronically. The notice must go out by whichever comes first: the date the Secretary thinks gives people enough time to understand the change, 90 days before the change starts, or on the change’s effective date if the change is required by law. "Significant change" means either a systemwide change to the program’s structure or benefits (not adding new services) or a beneficiary cost-share increase over 20 percent.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §1097d

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Provision of Notice.—

(1)If the Secretary makes a significant change to any benefits provided by the TRICARE program to covered beneficiaries, the Secretary shall provide individuals described in paragraph (2) with notice explaining such changes.

(2)The individuals described by this paragraph are covered beneficiaries participating in the TRICARE program who may be affected by a significant change covered by a notification under paragraph (1).

(3)The Secretary shall provide notice under paragraph (1) through electronic means.

(b)Timing of Notice.—

The Secretary shall provide notice under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) by the earlier of the following dates:

(1)The date that the Secretary determines would afford individuals described in paragraph (2) of such subsection adequate time to understand the change covered by the notification.

(2)The date that is 90 days before the date on which the change covered by the notification becomes effective.

(3)The effective date of a significant change that is required by law.

(c)Significant Change Defined.—

In this section, the term “significant change” means a systemwide change—

(1)in the structure of the TRICARE program or the benefits provided under the TRICARE program (not including the addition of new services or benefits); or

(2)in beneficiary cost-share rates of more than 20 percent.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 1097d

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110