Find a TriCare Therapist

• Psychotherapy, medication management, group, and family sessions are all covered when medically necessary.

Key points

• Unlimited medically necessary visits. TRICARE sets no yearly cap on covered sessions.
• No referral or pre-authorization for most outpatient therapy and medication-management visits; exceptions are psychoanalysis and certain substance-use treatments.
• Telehealth parity. TRICARE pays the same for secure video or audio-only therapy through at least December 2025.

All types of providerds must be licensed, credentialed, and “network” with Humana Military (East) or Health Net Federal Services (West). Non-network civilian clinicians can still treat you, but you’ll file claims yourself and pay higher cost-shares.

Jasmine Miller, 31, is an active-duty Staff Sergeant stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Her spouse is currently deployed overseas, and she’s balancing work and parenting two children under age five. After several weeks of feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and isolated, she decides it’s time to talk to someone.

Day 1: Finding a Provider: Jasmine goes to tricare.mil/finddoctor to search for behavioral health providers. She selects:

• Behavioral Health
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Telemedicine

She filters by her ZIP code and checks for evening appointments. Four in-network therapists show up, all accepting TRICARE Prime. She writes down their contact info and calls the first provider.

Appointment booked: Video therapy session in 8 days Cost: $0 (TRICARE Prime covers behavioral health for active-duty family members)

Day 8: First Therapy Session: Jasmine connects via secure video with a licensed therapist who specializes in anxiety, military family stress, and parenting challenges. They spend 45 minutes discussing Jasmine’s daily routine, stress triggers, and goals for therapy. She leaves the session feeling heard—and hopeful.

Day 10: Next Steps: After their second session, the therapist recommends that Jasmine consider a medication consult to help manage her anxiety. She explains that while therapy will continue, medication could provide additional support.

Day 12: Psychiatry Appointment Scheduled: Jasmine logs back into the TRICARE provider directory and searches for in-network psychiatrists offering telehealth. She finds one available the following week and confirms they accept TRICARE Prime. She books the appointment online.

Cost: $0 copay

What we can learn from Jasmines journey:

• Jasmine didn’t need a referral to start therapy (TRICARE Prime waives this for mental health care)
• She used TRICARE’s online provider directory to filter for therapy type, location, and telehealth
• All care was in-network and fully covered under her TRICARE Prime plan
• She kept track of provider contacts and appointment dates in case she needed to escalate or request alternatives

From first search to psychiatry scheduled: 12 days Total out-of-pocket cost: $0

Helpful Tip: If no provider has availability within 10 business days, you can request a network adequacy exception—this allows TRICARE to approve care with an outside provider at in-network rates.

1. Start with the Right Tool Go to the TRICARE “Find a Doctor” tool and launch the Find a Provider Wizard.

• Select “Network Provider”
• Choose “Mental Health” **Enter your ZIP code or APO/FPO location

2. Apply Filters That Match Your Needs

• Use filters like “Telemedicine” if you prefer virtual care
• Choose specialties such as PTSD, couples counseling, or ADHD
• Check the box for “Accepting New Patients” to avoid delays

3. Confirm the Provider is In-Network

• Look for the green check mark or “network” label Out-of-network providers may result in higher costs and require more paperwork

4. Call to Book Your Appointment

• Contact the provider’s office directly
• Be ready to give:
  • Your DoD Benefits Number (DBN)
  • The last four digits of your sponsor’s SSN
  • Your TRICARE plan type (Prime, Select, etc.)

5. Know If You Need a Referral (TRICARE Prime Only)

• TRICARE Prime: Routine outpatient therapy usually does not need a referral, but some clinics may request one—have your Primary Care Manager’s (PCM) info handy
• TRICARE Select: No referral needed for mental health care

6. Prepare for Telehealth Appointments

• The provider will send a HIPAA-secure video link
• If video isn’t an option, phone-only sessions are generally covered

Tip: Always double-check your coverage details at tricare.mil/mentalhealth or call your TRICARE regional contractor (Humana Military, Health Net, or International SOS depending on your region).