TRICARE Emergency Mental Health Care Overseas Guide | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer If you are overseas and experiencing a mental health emergency, go to the nearest hospital or emergency room immediately; you do not need a prior authorization for emergency care. Once stable, contact **International SOS** (the overseas regional contractor) to report the admission and ensure your follow-up care is covered.

Details

### What Qualifies as an Emergency? TRICARE defines a mental health emergency as a situation where there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or others, or where you are experiencing acute psychiatric symptoms that require immediate medical intervention. Examples include suicidal ideation, severe psychosis, or a total inability to care for oneself.

### Seeking Care and Notifications * **Immediate Action:** You should not wait for an authorization. Go to the nearest emergency room or call the local equivalent of 911 (e.g., 112 in many European countries or 119 in parts of Asia). * **The 24-Hour Rule:** While not a strict cutoff that voids coverage, TRICARE requests that you, a family member, or the hospital staff notify the **TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP) Regional Call Center** within 24 hours of admission. This allows International SOS to coordinate payment and manage potential medical evacuation if the local facility is inadequate. * **Active Duty Requirements:** Active duty service members (ADSMs) must notify their Commanding Officer or the nearest Military Treatment Facility (MTF) as soon as possible following an emergency admission.

### Costs and Plan Specifics (2026 Rates) Costs depend on your beneficiary status and whether you are enrolled in **TRICARE Select Overseas** or **TRICARE Prime Overseas**.

* **Active Duty / Prime Overseas:** There are generally **$0 out-of-pocket costs** for emergency mental health care provided at host-nation facilities, provided the admission is reported and deemed a true emergency. * **Retirees / Select Overseas:** You are responsible for a deductible and cost-shares. For 2026, Group A retirees on TRICARE Select usually face a cost-share of roughly 25% of the allowable charge for emergency room visits after the deductible is met. * **Pharmacy:** If prescribed emergency psychiatric medication, use a TRICARE-contracted pharmacy or a military pharmacy to avoid high out-of-pocket costs. **Express Scripts** manages the pharmacy benefit globally.

### Medical Evacuations If you are in a location where the local psychiatric care does not meet U.S. standards of care, International SOS may coordinate a **Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC)**. For Prime-enrolled members (ADSMs and ADFMs), TRICARE typically covers the cost of movement to the nearest location with appropriate psychiatric facilities.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Stationed or on leave overseas. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Living overseas or traveling. * **Retirees and their Families:** Living abroad (Permanent Overseas) or traveling. * **National Guard/Reserve:** On active duty orders or enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select while traveling.

## Sources 1. **TRICARE.mil:** Emergency Care Overseas (https://www.tricare.mil/EmergencyCare) 2. **International SOS:** TRICARE Overseas Program - Mental Health Care (https://www.tricare-overseas.com/) 3. **TRICARE.mil:** Mental Health Coverage Summary (https://www.tricare.mil/MentalHealth) 4. **Defense Health Agency:** TRICARE Overseas Costs (https://health.mil)