Find a TriCare Therapist

How TRICARE Mental-Health Coverage Works

TRICARE covers outpatient therapy and psychiatry across all of its plan types, but your costs depend on your status and enrollment.

If you’re on TRICARE Prime as an active-duty family member, you’ll usually pay $0 for in-network outpatient therapy or psychiatry visits. Referrals aren’t required for most care, except for psychoanalysis or certain substance-use disorder programs.

Retirees on TRICARE Prime pay a modest $31 copay per visit under the same rules—no referral needed for standard therapy or medication management.

For those on TRICARE Select (Group A or B), you’ll pay 20% cost-share after meeting your annual deductible. Referrals aren’t required, so you can choose your provider directly.

If you’re covered by TRICARE For Life, Medicare pays 80% of the bill and TRICARE automatically covers the remaining 20%, leaving you with no out-of-pocket cost—as long as the service is Medicare-approved.

A few key things to know:

• Unlimited visits. TRICARE places no cap on the number of medically necessary therapy or psychiatry sessions.
• Minimal pre-approvals. Most outpatient care doesn’t require referrals or pre-authorization, aside from psychoanalysis and specific substance-use treatments.
• Telehealth parity. TRICARE pays the same rate for secure video and audio-only therapy through at least December 2025.

TRICARE Mental Health Providers Types 

TRICARE covers a full range of licensed mental health professionals:

• A therapist or counselor (LCSW, LMFT, LPC) typically provides weekly talk therapy, coping skills training, and family sessions.
• A psychologist (PhD or PsyD) offers both therapy and psychological testing, and may specialize in trauma-focused or advanced treatment modalities.
• A psychiatrist (MD or DO) focuses on diagnosis and medication management, particularly for more complex conditions.

All providers must be licensed and credentialed with TRICARE’s regional contractors—Humana Military for the East region and Health Net Federal Services for the West. You can still see a non-network civilian provider, but you’ll pay higher cost-shares and will need to file your own claims.

Real-Life Use Case: How SSgt Jasmine Miller Found Mental Health Support Through TRICARE

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.

Step-by-Step: How to book therapy with TRICARE 

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).

In-Network vs. Non-Network: What Changes?

With TRICARE, you can see either in-network or non-network providers, but the experience (and cost) is very different.

If you choose an in-network provider, the process is straightforward. Your provider files claims on your behalf, you’ll pay the lowest copay or cost-share available under your plan, and reimbursement is fast. Referral rules are the same as your plan normally requires.

If you see a non-network (but TRICARE-authorized) provider, you’ll be responsible for filing your own claims, and your costs are higher—up to 25% cost-share plus your deductible. While the referral rules don’t change, reimbursement often takes longer, so you may wait before getting paid back.

Bottom line: Whenever possible, stick to network TRICARE mental-health providers. This is especially important overseas, where only TRICARE-certified clinicians can bill directly. Choosing in-network keeps your costs low, your paperwork minimal, and your care fully coordinated.

Telehealth Options

TRICARE members now have broad access to telehealth for mental health care, and in most cases it’s billed exactly the same as an in-person visit.

You can use video therapy from any location, including your home, and it’s covered at the same rate as an office visit. If video isn’t possible, audio-only therapy is also allowed permanently for mental health services.

Psychiatry visits by video are fully covered too, with no cost difference compared to in-person appointments.

What TRICARE doesn’t cover are chat- or text-only apps. To qualify for reimbursement, your session must include audio or video communication with a licensed provider.

Tip: All telehealth visits count toward your annual deductible and catastrophic cap just as if you were seen in a clinic, so your costs apply the same way no matter the format.

Cost & Coverage 

What you’ll pay for therapy or psychiatry under TRICARE depends on your plan type and status. Here’s how costs typically break down in 2025:

• Prime – Active Duty Members: Both therapy and psychiatry visits are covered at $0 in-network.
• Prime – Active Duty Family Members: Also $0 per visit for both therapy and medication management when you stay in-network.
• Prime – Retirees: Pay a $31 copay per visit, whether you’re seeing a therapist or psychiatrist.
• Select – Group A: After meeting a $192 annual deductible, you’ll pay 20% cost-share for both therapy and psychiatry.
• Select – Group B: After meeting a $213 annual deductible, you’ll pay the same 20% cost-share.
• TRICARE For Life: Works hand-in-hand with Medicare. Medicare covers 80%, and TRICARE automatically pays the other 20%, leaving you with no out-of-pocket cost as long as the service is Medicare-approved.

Tip: These figures come from TRICARE’s February 2025 cost sheet, but always double-check your regional handbook or online portal for your exact rates—especially if you receive care overseas, where billing rules can differ.

Tips for Choosing the Right TRICARE Therapist

1. Match Specialty to Mission. PTSD, postpartum, couples—use directory filters.
   
   
2. Check Modality. CBT for anxiety, EMDR for trauma, Gottman for marriage prep.
   
   
3. Confirm Licensure & Network Status. Look for “TRICARE-certified” badge.
   
   
4. Ask About Telehealth. Saves drive time, especially if you live off-post.
   
   
5. Consider Cultural Fit. Many providers list military-family experience.

If chemistry is off, reopen the provider finder  and swap providers at no  penalty.

Advocating for Yourself When Wait Times Drag

• Call the Regional Contractor. Humana Military (East) 1-800-444-5445; Health Net (West) 1-844-866-9378.
  
  
• Request the “Rapid-Access List.” These are providers who promise first appointments within seven days.
  
  
• Ask About MTF Specialty Clinics. On-base behavioral-health clinics often hold slots for dependents.
  
  
• File a Beneficiary Inquiry/Complaint. Use tricare.mil/forms; contractors must respond in 30 days.
  
  
• Contact a Patient Advocate. Every MTF has one—they can escalate network gaps on your behalf.
  
  

Document names, dates, and promised callback times; polite persistence often unlocks a sooner visit with psychiatrists and therapists that take TRICARE.

Additional No-Cost Resources for Military Families

• Military & Veterans Crisis Line — call or text 988, press 1
  
  
• Military OneSource — 12 free non-medical counseling sessions
  
  
• Chaplains Corps — confidential short-term counseling on-base
  
  
• VA Vet Centers — readjustment counseling for combat veterans & families

FAQ’s

Does TRICARE cover therapy for children?
Yes—individual, family, and group therapy are covered when medically necessary.

Does TRICARE cover psychiatry via telehealth?
Yes. Video and audio-only medication-management visits are paid at the in-office rate. 

How do I find therapists that take TRICARE near me?
Use the Find a Doctor wizard on tricare.mil, filter “Behavioral Health,” and check “Accepting patients.”

What’s the difference between a TRICARE therapist and a TRICARE psychologist?
Therapist is a broad term for counselors (LCSW, LMFT, LPC). Psychologists (PhD/PsyD) can also perform testing. Both are covered when in network.

Can I see psychiatrists that take TRICARE without a referral?
For routine outpatient visits, yes—no referral is required under Prime or Select unless you’re seeking psychoanalysis or substance-use specialty care.