It’s easy to find excuses not to go to the doctor. Life is just too busy, and it can be difficult to find time to make the calls, and then remember when and where appointments are supposed to be. According to research from the Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, men are significantly less likely than women to visit a doctor, get cholesterol screenings or get immunizations against flu and pneumonia. The agency’s research also shows that men are significantly more likely to be hospitalized for congestive heart failure, complications from diabetes or pneumonia.
The appointment feature of TRICARE Online eliminates the typical excuses for forgetting appointments for TRICARE beneficiaries and their families. TOL offers convenient anytime, anywhere access to appointment scheduling. TOL allows authorized individuals logging into TOL with their Common Access Card or DOD Self-Service Logon the ability to schedule, view and cancel both Primary Care and select self-referral specialty appointments on behalf of themselves, other adult family members who have granted access or minor children.
TOL’s appointment scheduling capability is available online seven days a week, 24 hours a day, enabling TOL beneficiaries and their families scheduling flexibility. This increases their access to care by providing an alternative to the limited hours offered by local military treatment facility call centers.
TOL’s appointment scheduling capability is not only convenient but it is also easy to use. To schedule your next appointment on TOL simply follow the step by step instructions:
Step 1: Visit the TOL Home page and log into TOL using a CAC or DS Logon.
Step 2: Visit the Appointment Center of the TOL Beneficiary Home page to schedule, view and/or cancel an appointment for yourself or a designated family member.
Step 3: Select the family member from the Select Family Member drop-down list and click on the Go button. You can now view or cancel active appointments for the selected family member. If you wish to schedule a new appointment, select the Visit Reason from the appointment drop-down list.
Step 4: Choose an available appointment for yourself or designated family member.
Step 5: Confirm the date, time, provider and location for the appointment. Enter a reason for the appointment.
Once these five simple steps are complete, the appointment will have successfully been scheduled online via TOL.
Should you require additional help and or guidance to complete your online appointment scheduling, please contact TOL Customer Service, available 24 hours a day, at (800) 600-9332.
As the Military Health System focuses on men’s health awareness during the month of June, it’s important for all to remember tools such as TOL online appointment booking to support health now, and throughout the year.
By Sarah Marcinko, DHSS Communications