Does TRICARE Cover Therapy? 2026 Costs & Rules | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer Yes, TRICARE covers medically necessary outpatient therapy, including psychotherapy and family counseling, for a wide range of mental health conditions. Depending on your plan and beneficiary status, you may or may not need a referral or prior authorization to see a provider.

Details

TRICARE's coverage of therapy is designed to treat diagnosed mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders. Coverage is generally divided into two categories: outpatient therapy and intensive programs.

### Types of Therapy Covered * **Individual Psychotherapy:** One-on-one sessions (usually 45–60 minutes). * **Family/Conjoint Therapy:** Counseling for the beneficiary and their family members to address issues related to the patient's condition. * **Group Therapy:** Sessions led by a provider with multiple patients. * **Collateral Visits:** Sessions with family members or others to discuss the patient's treatment plan.

### Referral and Authorization Requirements Requirements for starting therapy depend on your specific TRICARE plan:

* **TRICARE Prime (Active Duty):** Active duty service members (ADSMs) **always** need a referral and prior authorization for any mental health care sought outside of a military hospital or clinic. * **TRICARE Prime (Families & Retirees):** You do not need a referral for "office-based" outpatient therapy from a network provider. However, you generally need prior authorization for more intensive services (like Partial Hospitalization Programs). * **TRICARE Select:** You do not need a referral for any outpatient therapy. You can visit any TRICARE-authorized provider, though your out-of-pocket costs will be lower if you use a network provider.

### 2026 Costs and Copays Costs are determined by your "Group" (based on when you or your sponsor joined the military) and your plan type.

* **Active Duty:** $0 out-of-pocket for all covered therapy. * **TRICARE Prime (Group A Retirees):** For 2026, the copayment is approximately $38 per outpatient visit (vitesse/rates may vary slightly; check TRICARE.mil for exact 2026 updates). * **TRICARE Select (Group A Retirees):** For 2026, the network copayment is approximately $37–$50 per visit after the deductible is met. * **Point of Service (POS) Option:** If you are on a Prime plan and see a therapist without a referral (when one was required), you will pay a 50% cost-share and a high deductible.

### What is NOT Covered TRICARE generally does *not* cover: * Marriage counseling (unless it is part of the treatment for a diagnosed mental health condition). * Pastoral counseling (unless performed by a licensed mental health provider). * Educational or vocational testing. * Therapy for "personal growth" rather than a diagnosed medical condition.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Full coverage, but requires prior authorization/referral for civilian care. * **Active Duty Family Members:** No referral needed for outpatient network therapy; low or no copays. * **Retirees and their Families:** Covered via Prime or Select; requires copays/cost-shares. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Covered via TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS). * **Survivors and Medically Retired:** Maintain access to therapy benefits under the same rules as retirees.

## Sources 1. **TRICARE.mil Mental Health Overview:** https://www.tricare.mil/MentalHealth 2. **TriWest (West Region Contractor):** https://www.triwest.com 3. **Humana Military (East Region Contractor):** https://www.humanamilitary.com 4. **TRICARE Cost Search Tool:** https://www.tricare.mil/costs