TRICARE Assistance Programs & Support Services Guide | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer TRICARE provides "assistance" through non-clinical support services like the Nurse Advice Line, the Military and Family Life Counseling (MFLC) program, and specialized care coordination for complex medical needs. Unlike traditional "Employee Assistance Programs" (EAP), these services are integrated into your existing health plan to help you navigate care, manage chronic conditions, or access mental health support without a referral.

Details

### 24/7 Nurse Advice Line The most immediate assistance program available to all TRICARE beneficiaries in the U.S. is the Nurse Advice Line. Registered nurses are available 24/7 to provide medical advice, help you decide if an injury or illness requires an emergency room visit, or assist with scheduling same-day appointments for those enrolled at Military Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs). * **Cost:** $0 for all beneficiary types. * **Access:** Call 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273), option 1.

### Mental and Behavioral Health Assistance TRICARE does not use a standalone EAP, but it offers robust "assistance-style" mental health support: * **Military and Family Life Counseling (MFLC):** Offers confidential, non-medical "walk-around" counseling for service members and their families fixated on daily life stressors (deployment, moves, grief). * **Telemental Health:** TRICARE covers video-based therapy through contractors. For 2026, most Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs) on TRICARE Select have a $0 copay for in-network office visits, while retirees and their families on Select pay a fixed copay (varies by Group A vs. Group B status).

### Care Coordination and Case Management For beneficiaries with complex or chronic conditions (cancer, high-risk pregnancy, transplants), TRICARE’s regional contractors—**Humana Military (East)** and **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West)**—provide Case Management. * **How it works:** A dedicated case manager helps you coordinate between specialists, ensures medical equipment is delivered, and helps navigate authorization hurdles. * **Transitions:** As of the T-5 contract (effective 2025/2026), TriWest manages these services for the West region.

### Pharmacy Assistance (Express Scripts) Managed by Express Scripts, the pharmacy benefit includes assistance for specialty medications. * **Accredo:** This is the specialty pharmacy used for complex drugs (e.g., for MS or rheumatoid arthritis). They provide 24/7 access to specialized pharmacists and nurses to assist with side effect management and injection training.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Full access to all clinical and non-medical counseling. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Access to Nurse Advice Line, MFLC, and case management. * **Retirees and their Families:** Eligible for Nurse Advice Line and contractor-led case management. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) have full access to these support programs.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Mental Health Care Services](https://www.tricare.mil/MentalHealth) * **Humana Military (East):** [Case Management Services](https://www.humanamilitary.com) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** [Beneficiary Services and T-5 Information](https://www.triwest.com) * **Express Scripts:** [TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery](https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com)