INFORMATION ON BENEFICIARY WEB ENROLLMENT

Problem Statement: The Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) functionality is not working properly for those requesting an Open Season change in their existing TRICARE coverage.

Who/When: Affects all TRICARE Prime or Select eligible beneficiaries wishing to make a change in their current TRICARE coverage effective Jan. 1, 2020, during the current open season period (Nov. 11 – Dec. 9). It does NOT affect those wishing to enroll for the first time or for those electing to enroll in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select based on a qualifying life event (QLE).

What: The Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) functionality is not working properly for those requesting an Open Season change in their TRICARE coverage. While the system does allow them to change their TRICARE coverage effective Jan. 1, 2020, it creates a gap in their current coverage by disenrolling them from the existing coverage on a date other than Dec. 31.

DHA validated with DMDC that the issue involves the BWE coding, and that for those wishing to make a change to their existing TRICARE coverage, they should call their regional contractor versus using BWE.

The following message is posted on TRICARE.mil and the BWE page in milConnect:

“Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) is currently experiencing a technical issue. If you would like to change your TRICARE Prime Option or TRICARE Select plans during Open Season:

1. Call your regional contractor

Health Net Federal Services (TRICARE West): 1-844-866-9378

Humana Military (TRICARE East): 1-800-444-5445

(Overseas) visit TRICARE-overseas.com/contact-us

2. Download

Fill out and mail enrollment form at https://www.tricare.mil/forms

DMDC will conduct a “sweep” of all BWE “change of enrolled plan” transactions initiated during the TRICARE Open Season, which will “reconnect” the enrollment histories so there is no gap in their TRICARE coverages during Nov. or Dec. THP has asked for additional details, including timing of the sweeps.

Where: BWE is deployed on DMDC’s milConnect webpages at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect.

Why: This issue was previously identified during the 2018 TRICARE Open Season. After the end of the 2018 Open Season, THP partnered with DMDC to identify new requirements to fix the issue. THP was under the impression that the problem with the effective disenrollment date (Dec. 31) was fixed prior to the start of this year’s Open Season. However, per DMDC, the fix is currently unfunded.

After the Open Season ends, THP plans to meet with OPM and their FEHBP and FEVIP contractors to review their online eligibility and enrollment capabilities and associated technical design documents. THP will then re-draft DHA’s online eligibility and enrollment portal requirements that either can be met by DMDC or put out for bid by web tool design contactors.”