TRICARE Midwife and Birth Center Coverage Guide | TRICARE.com

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or the official TRICARE program. For official policy, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer TRICARE covers services provided by certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and birth centers that are TRICARE-authorized and Medicare-certified. While coverage is robust for standard deliveries, TRICARE does not cover services provided by "lay" midwives or those not certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.

Details

### Certified Provider Requirements TRICARE only pays for midwifery services if the provider is a **Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)**. * The CNM must be registered and licensed by the state. * The CNM must be certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. * In some cases, the midwife must have a formal collaborative agreement with a physician.

TRICARE generally **does not cover** Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), direct-entry midwives, or lay midwives, as they do not meet the Department of Defense's clinical certification requirements.

### Birth Center Coverage TRICARE covers deliveries at freestanding birth centers if the facility is TRICARE-authorized. To be authorized, the center must: 1. Be Medicare-certified. 2. Be accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers (CABC). 3. Enter into a participation agreement with the regional contractor (Humana Military in the East; TriWest in the West).

### Costs and Copays (2026 Rates) Costs vary depending on your plan and beneficiary status: * **TRICARE Prime:** $0 out-of-pocket for covered maternity services at an authorized birth center (requires a referral for civilian care). * **TRICARE Select (Group A):** For 2026, retirees and their families typically pay a percentage of the allowed amount or a fixed per-day copay for the facility, while active duty family members (ADFMs) may have a $0 or nominal fee. * **TRICARE Select (Group B):** Usually subject to an annual deductible and then a cost-share for the professional and facility fees.

*Always check with Humana Military (East) or TriWest (West) to ensure the birth center is in-network to minimize charges.*

### Home Births vs. Birth Centers TRICARE covers planned home births only if they are attended by a TRICARE-authorized CNM and the pregnancy is considered low-risk. However, many TRICARE-authorized midwives will only perform births in a hospital or an accredited freestanding birth center to ensure safety standards meet TRICARE’s "medically necessary" criteria.

## Who this affects * Active Duty Service Members (must have a referral). * Active Duty Family Members (Prime or Select). * Retirees and their families. * TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) members. * TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) members.

## Sources 1. **TRICARE.mil:** [Maternity Care Coverage](https://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/MaternityCare) 2. **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region):** [Provider Directory and Network Standards](https://www.triwest.com) 3. **Humana Military (East Region):** [Maternity Benefit Details](https://www.humanamilitary.com) 4. **Health.mil:** [Freestanding Birth Center Certified Provider Standards](https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Access-Cost-Quality-and-Reporting/TRICARE-Health-Plan/TRICARE-Manuals)