Selene Martin is a Marine Corps veteran spouse and AVP of Corporate Affairs at CareSource.
Military families in Atlanta and Tampa will see something different during the 2025 TRICARE Open Season: a new choice in how they receive care.
Through the Department of Defense’s Competitive Plans Demonstration (CPD), eligible families can enroll in TRICARE Prime Demo by CareSource Military & Veterans (CSMV), a health plan designed to meet the realities of military life with more local support.
TRICARE remains a critical part of military readiness, and this system is continuing to evolve. Providing choice ensures families have access, continuity, and the kind of support that fits their lives.
According to the Blue Star Families 2023 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, 35 percent of active duty family respondents live in communities with a shortage of both military and civilian mental health professionals. These gaps can delay care when families need it most, and the stress shows in every area of life, from parenting to readiness.
Military families move the mission. They adapt, restart, and keep the home front running so their loved ones can serve. In health care, as in service, demands evolve quickly. While TRICARE continues to support millions of families, military life today requires new approaches to access, continuity, and support. That is why the Department of Defense launched the Competitive Plans Demonstration to explore options that better reflect the pace and complexity of modern military service.
This is something I understand not just professionally but personally. As the spouse and daughter of veterans, a military family member and advocate, I have watched families rebuild care after a move. TRICARE provides essential coverage to millions of beneficiaries. Initiatives like the CPD are vital for building on what works and expanding access through new options.
At CareSource Military & Veterans, our teams include veterans, military spouses, and caregivers who know the routine. This lived experience has shaped our approach, offering real-time support, expanded access to behavioral health, and providers who understand what service-connected care means.
We are also focused on education. Many families do not know that CareSource Military & Veterans is an option under the CPD. Our mission is to make the path clear.
It is about collaboration, listening to families, and continuing to build systems that serve both readiness and well-being.
Military families serve, too. And they deserve a health care experience that reflects their commitment, not just in theory but in practice, access, and follow-through.
Military families need a health plan that offers reliable access to care, understands their unique experiences, and helps them navigate the responsibilities of military life. That is what the CPD aims to provide. And that is what we are committed to building together.
