TRICARE Crisis Mental Health Coverage & Emergency Care | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer In a mental health crisis, TRICARE covers emergency inpatient psychiatric care and medical detoxification without a prior authorization. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room; if you need to talk to someone immediately, call the **988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline** (press 1 for the Military Crisis Line).

Details

TRICARE provides comprehensive coverage for crisis mental health services, though the "pathway" to care depends on whether you are active duty or a civilian beneficiary.

### Emergency Care (Immediate Danger) If you are experiencing a mental health emergency (risk of self-harm or harm to others), TRICARE policy allows you to seek care at any hospital emergency room. * **Authorization:** No prior authorization is required for emergency admissions. However, the facility must notify your regional contractor (**Humana Military** in the East or **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** in the West) within 24–72 hours of admission. * **Costs (2026 Rates):** Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs) have $0 out-of-pocket costs. For Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs) on TRICARE Select, emergency room copays vary by Group A or B status (typically ranging from $100 to $135 in 2026). TRICARE Prime family members generally pay $0 for emergency room visits.

### Non-Emergency Crisis Support If you are in distress but do not require the ER, TRICARE covers several "intermediate" levels of care: * **Telemental Health:** TRICARE covers video-based therapy. Many beneficiaries use **Doctor On Demand** or **Telemynd**, which coordinate directly with TRICARE contractors. * **Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP):** For those needing more than weekly therapy but not 24/7 supervision. * **Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP):** A step down from inpatient care, providing 6+ hours of clinical support daily.

### Urgent Care Rules * **Active Duty:** You **must** have a referral for any mental health care that is not an emergency room visit. Contact your Primary Care Manager (PCM) or the Nurse Advice Line. * **Non-Active Duty:** Most family members and retirees on Prime or Select do not need a referral for office-based outpatient mental health visits (up to 8 visits is the standard baseline, though often more are allowed without oversight).

### Regional Contacts (T-5 Contract) As of 2026, the TRICARE regions are managed by: * **East Region:** Humana Military (1-800-444-5445) * **West Region:** TriWest Healthcare Alliance (1-888-TRIWEST)

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Full coverage, but requires coordination with Command and PCM for non-emergency follow-up. * **Active Duty Family Members:** Accessible care with no referrals needed for most outpatient therapy. * **Retirees & Their Families:** Covered under TRICARE Select or Prime (standard cost-shares apply). * **National Guard and Reserve:** Covered when on active duty orders or if enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS). * **Survivors:** Retain the same mental health benefits as active duty family members or retirees.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil - Mental Health Fundamentals:** https://www.tricare.mil/HealthWellness/MentalHealth * **Humana Military (East):** https://www.humanamilitary.com/ * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** https://www.triwest.com/ * **Military Crisis Line:** https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/