TRICARE tools tame tax time

TriWest Healthcare Alliance

PHOENIX — Love it or hate it, there’s no denying it: Tax season is here. Do you see yourself digging through piles of paper looking for last year’s forms and receipts? There’s a better way — TRICARE West Region beneficiaries can find TRICARE out-of-pocket costs online through their secure www.triwest.com account.

Account history

To help you track healthcare expenses, you can access up to three years of your claims, benefit statements and any enrollment fee information through your www.triwest.com account. You can see all the benefits of registration at www.triwest.com/register.

Qualified medical expenses

If you itemize your annual tax deductions, certain medical expenses may be eligible for deduction. The Internal Revenue Service allows for expenses like equipment costs, supplies, and diagnostic devices, dental expenses, as well as fees for eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses. You should always check with a tax professional for your allowable deductions. You can contact a tax advisor at a military base tax preparation center near you, or visit www.militaryonesource.com. Special tax provisions exist for members of the military and are listed at www.irs.gov; click on “Individuals” along the top of the page and then follow the “Military” link for specific information.

Go paperless

After you’ve developed your secure triwest.com account, don’t forget to log in and sign up for paperless communications and go green. Tracking your medical expenses is less taxing when it’s at your fingertips online, anytime.

Save time, stay organized and keep the piles of paper to a minimum. You might even save a tree or two in one easy step.

For more information about what is available through your TriWest account, visit www.triwest.com and register or call 1-888-TRIWEST (874-9378).