Ambulance Services

TRICARE covers medically necessary emergency ambulance services. This may include air and boat ambulances in certain circumstances.

Ambulance services may be:

• Emergency medical transport to a hospital. This is considered “outpatient” ambulance service.
• Transfers between medical facilities. This is considered “inpatient” ambulance service.
• When ambulance personnel treat you but don’t take you to a hospital

You must go to the closest medical facility that can provide the necessary acute care. This may be the nearest military hospital or clinic.

Your costs depend on your plan, your beneficiary category, and where you get care. Costs may be different for land and air ambulances. Check your health plan costs to find what applies to you.

• Ambulance transport used instead of a taxi service when your condition would have let you use regular private transportation
• Transport to be closer to home, family, friends, or your provider
• Medical transport cabs for routine medical appointments

• Medical air evacuation
• Emergency care