TRICARE changes improve services to Air Commandos Published March 14, 2018 By Airman 1st Class Dennis Spain 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. – -- New laws required by the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, combined with the recent TRICARE move from three regions to two, will result in a plethora of changes to the military health system beginning Jan. 1, 2018.Several aspects of the existing TRICARE system will remain in place through the changes, such as several different plans being offered that meet or exceed the requirements for minimal essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act. “The changes were made in an effort to make healthcare more affordable, more accessible and of a higher value,” said Maj. Sean Rotbart, TRICARE operations and patient administrations flight commander with the 1st Special Operations Medical Support Squadron. “Our mission is to promote readiness, provide medical services and get people ready to deploy. Having an up-to-date healthcare system helps accomplish this mission.”To see a comprehensive list of the changes and adjustments made to the TRICARE system, please visit https://tricare.mil/changes or contact your local TRICARE office.“Things aren’t how they were 20 years ago,” said Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Ems, NCO in charge of TRICARE operations with the 1st Special Operations Medical Support Squadron. “There are different means of communication nowadays, which has been addressed in the recent changes. Better communication means better healthcare.”