TRICARE Overseas Region: Guide for Military Families abroad

The **Overseas Region** is a single TRICARE geographic area encompassing all countries and territories outside of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program. For official policy and enrollment, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Definition The Overseas Region is the administrative area managed by International SOS that provides TRICARE health benefits to eligible military members and their families living or traveling outside the United States.

## What it means in practice While the United States is split into two regions (East and West), the rest of the world is treated as one single "Overseas" region. This includes American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and all foreign countries. If you are stationed or living in any of these locations, your primary point of contact for claims, authorizations, and finding a doctor is International SOS, the current overseas contractor.

In practice, your experience in the Overseas Region depends heavily on your status. Active duty service members and their command-sponsored dependents typically enroll in **TRICARE Prime Overseas** or **TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas**. In these plans, there are generally $0 out-of-pocket costs for covered medical services, provided you use the military clinic (MTF) or a civilian provider authorized by International SOS.

For retirees, family members who are not command-sponsored, or those using **TRICARE Select Overseas**, the process is more complex. These beneficiaries often have to pay for care upfront in the local currency and then file a claim with International SOS for reimbursement. For the 2026 plan year, Select Overseas beneficiaries are subject to annual deductibles and cost-shares that vary based on the sponsor’s initial enlistment date (Group A or Group B). For example, a Group A retiree in 2026 may face a catastrophic cap of $4,394, after which TRICARE pays 100% of covered costs.

Pharmacy benefits in the Overseas Region are still managed by Express Scripts, but options are more limited. While military pharmacies and the mail-order service are available in many areas (mail-order is restricted in some countries due to local laws), civilian "retail" pharmacies overseas are non-network. This means you must pay the full price for your medication at the counter and file a claim for reimbursement later.

## Related terms * **International SOS:** The official contractor responsible for managing the TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP) and providing 24/7 assistance. * **Command-Sponsored:** A formal status for family members authorized by the military to reside with the service member at an overseas duty station, which grants eligibility for TRICARE Prime Overseas. * **TRICARE Select Overseas:** A PPO-style plan for beneficiaries living abroad that allows for more flexibility in choosing providers but involves higher out-of-pocket costs. * **TOP (TRICARE Overseas Program):** The specific umbrella of plans and services tailored to the requirements of the Overseas Region. * **Purchased Care Sector:** Civilian healthcare providers located outside of military hospitals and clinics within the Overseas Region.

## Sources * TRICARE.mil - Overseas: https://www.tricare.mil/overseas * TRICARE Overseas Program (International SOS): https://www.tricare-overseas.com/ * Defense Health Agency - TRICARE Plan Costs: https://www.tricare.mil/costs/