U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan

13/11/2025

Here’s how the DoW Civilian Health Insurance Enhancement Pilot helps simplify your medical experience in Japan:
1. Call the 24/7 bilingual support center for help finding a local provider
2. The call center assists with scheduling and direct billing arrangements
3. You receive care without paying out-of-pocket costs up front
4. Your insurance is billed directly through your FEHB plan
More than 800 DoW civilians have already used the pilot to access care with less stress and faster reimbursement.

12/11/2025

To use the DoW Civilian Health Insurance Enhancement Pilot in Japan, you must be enrolled in one of the five participating Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) plans that include coverage in Japan.

This pilot provides no-cost supplemental support services — including bilingual assistance for finding providers, scheduling appointments, and coordinating direct billing — to help DoW civilian employees access health care more easily while serving overseas.
If you’re not sure whether your current FEHB plan qualifies, contact your HR or benefits office. You can also review your options during Federal Benefits Open Season beginning Nov. 10, 2025.

12/11/2025

Starting this year, the Pilot Health Insurance Enhancement for DoW civilians in Japan includes interpreter support, making it even easier to access care in the Japanese health system.
Interpreter services can be accessed (subject to availability) through the program’s bilingual call center to help with medical appointments and communication at local clinics and hospitals.
This enhancement was added directly in response to feedback from program participants.

11/11/2025

Good news for the DoW civilian workforce in Japan!
The Pilot Health Insurance Enhancement Program has been extended through September 2026, continuing no-cost supplemental support services for eligible civilian employees.
The pilot helps you:
✅ Find English-speaking providers
✅ Schedule appointments
✅ Avoid upfront, out-of-pocket medical costs
The program ensures our overseas civilians receive the same quality and convenience they provide to our mission every day.
Learn more about eligibility and participating insurance plans: https://okinawa.tricare.mil/Getting-Care/Health-Insurance-Pilot-for-DOD-Civilians

05/11/2025

Department of War Extends Health Care Supplement Pilot for Civilian Employees in Japan.

The Department of War announced the extension of the Pilot Health Insurance Enhancement for DOW Civilian Employees in Japan, reaffirming the department’s commitment to improving access to medical care for its overseas workforce, and adding interpreter support.

Launched on January 1, 2025, the pilot program was designed to provide no-cost supplemental health support services to approximately 11,000 eligible DOW civilian employees. The program addresses longstanding challenges in navigating Japan’s health care system and managing upfront medical costs.
The extension is for a period of performance from Sept. 30, 2025, through Sept. 29, 2026.

“The Department recognizes the vital contributions of our civilian workforce abroad,” said Anthony J. Tata, the undersecretary of war for personnel and readiness. “Extending this pilot ensures continued support for our employees and reflects the Department’s unwavering commitment to taking care of our people who are supporting crucial military missions in Japan.”

The pilot program offers access to a bilingual call center that assists participants with appointment scheduling, medical provider coordination, and upfront payment guarantees. Eligibility requires enrollment in a participating Federal Employees Health Benefits plan, with non-appropriated fund employees qualifying through Aetna International coverage.

The extension will continue to be administered by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs, in partnership with International SOS Government Services Inc., the support contractor for the TRICARE Overseas Program.

Further details, including updated enrollment information and program enhancements, will be released ahead of the upcoming Federal Benefits Open Season, which starts Nov. 11, 2025.

The official website of U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa

30/10/2025

03/10/2025

The most recent appropriations for the Department of War expired at 11:59 p.m. EST on September 30, 2025. Military personnel will continue in a normal duty status without pay until such time as a continuing resolution or appropriations are passed by Congress and signed into law. Civilian personnel not engaged in excepted activities will be placed in a non-work, non-pay status.

Your health and well-being remain our highest priority. U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa is open, and we continue to schedule appointments. Call 098-971-9355 or visit https://okinawa.tricare.mil/ to learn about changes to our office hours or services during the government lapse in appropriations. This site will only provide critical updates on patient access to routine, urgent, and emergent healthcare.

If you have a medical emergency, call 911 on base or 098-911-1911 off base.

For information about TRICARE coverage during the lapse in appropriations period, visit www.tricare.mil/shutdown.

03/10/2025

Attention to award! 🏆

Please help us congratulate our outstanding shipmates on a job well done! ⚓️

Navy Medicine
Naval Medical Forces Pacific

02/10/2025

🥳Congratulations the some of the newest U.S. Navy Petty Officers!⚓️

HM2 Tomic
HM2 Stephan
HM3 Dy
HM3 Masola
HM3 Prichard
HM3 Raj

MAP authorizes commanding officers (COs) to advance eligible personnel to the next higher paygrade. The program is intended to give COs the opportunity to recognize their best Sailors by advancing them when they are ready for the next level of responsibility. The program gives greater authority to commands to better shape their workforce and the Navy by developing and rewarding our most talented Sailors.

Navy Medicine
Naval Medical Forces Pacific

01/10/2025

Due to the government lapse in appropriations, we won’t respond to messages or comments on this platform. We’ll resume normal activity when the federal government resumes business as usual. If you have a medical emergency, call 911 on base or 098-911-1911 off base. For information about TRICARE coverage during the lapse in appropriations period, visit www.tricare.mil/shutdown.

Call 098-971-9355 or visit https://okinawa.tricare.mil/ to learn about changes to our office hours or services during the government lapse in appropriations.

01/10/2025

Coming up this Friday! Please join us for our quarterly Ombudsman Assembly starting at 3pm at the Camp Shields Emmons Training Center.

This forum is designed to assist with resource sharing for all Navy families on island. Come join us — spouses and family members also welcome to attend!

There will be time for Q&A after the presenters. Hope to see you soon! 🤩

U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan
Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FOUR
CFWP AIMD & ASD Kadena