FALLS CHURCH, Va. - TRICARE's Smoking Quitline is now accepting calls! All non-Medicare eligible TRICARE beneficiaries within the U.S. can get assistance with going "smoke-free" by calling the toll-free quitline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays.

Beneficiaries residing in the TRICARE South Region can reach the quitline at 877-414-9949.  Beneficiaries living in the North Region can call 866-459-8766 and those living in the West Region can call 866-244-6870.

TRICARE's Smoking Quitline is a telephone support and referral service. Beneficiaries who call will be assessed and receive guidance for a smoking cessation plan that fits their unique smoking habits. Cessation materials can also be provided through U.S. mail upon request.

Although the new TRICARE Smoking Quitline is geared toward smoking cessation only, any TRICARE beneficiaries who want to quit using tobacco, including the smokeless kind, can get support through the Department of Defense's comprehensive and award-winning Quit Tobacco website, www.ucanquit2.org.

Ucanquit2 offers interactive, Web-based tobacco cessation training along with live, real-time encouragement from trained tobacco cessation coaches via the 24/7 "chat" feature. Users also have the opportunity to exchange information through the website's blog and electronic bulletin board and link to the website's Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and YouTube pages. 

Many military treatment facilities offer smoking cessation programs and beneficiaries should check locally for more information on those programs. A military treatment facility locator is at www.tricare.mil/mtf.

Medicare eligible beneficiaries are reminded they may be eligible for smoking cessation benefits through Medicare Part B.  Check for more information at www.medicare.gov.