Do I need a referral for urgent or emergency care?
If you believe you have an emergency, call 911 or your international emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room. You don’t need a referral. If you're enrolled in a TRICARE Prime plan, call your primary care manager within 24 hours or the next business day after you get emergency care.
For urgent care, see the tables below.
| TRICARE Plan |
Active Duty Service Member |
Active Duty Family Member |
Retiree or Retiree Family Member |
| TRICARE Prime |
Yes |
No, as long as you get urgent care from any TRICARE-authorized urgent care center or network provider. |
| TRICARE Young Adult- Prime |
Not applicable |
| TRICARE Prime Remote |
No, but you must follow Service regulations. |
No, as long as you get urgent care from any TRICARE-authorized urgent care center or network provider. If you don’t have an assigned primary care provider, you may use any TRICARE-authorized provider. |
Not applicable |
| TRICARE Prime Overseas |
No, but you should call International SOS to get an authorization so your urgent care visit is cashless and claimless. |
| TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas |
| TRICARE For Life |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
No |
| TRICARE Plan |
Plan Enrollees |
| TRICARE Select Overseas |
No, but you should call International SOS to get an authorization so your urgent care visit is cashless and claimless. |
| TRICARE Young Adult-Select |
No, but always choose a TRICARE-authorized provider. |
| TRICARE Reserve Select |
| TRICARE Retired Reserve |
This information last reviewed: 3/12/2024