Using TRICARE Prime

If you're enrolled in TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote or TRICARE Young Adult-Prime in the U.S., follow these guidelines when traveling:

If Traveling in the United States

  1. Get all your routine care before traveling
  2. If you need emergency care, go to an emergency roomThe hospital department that provides emergency services to patients who need immediate medical attention. or call 911
    • Call your primary care manager (PCM) or regional contractor within 24 hours
  3. If you need urgent care, you may visit a TRICARE-authorized urgent care center without a referral, unless you are an active duty service member in a Prime Service Area.

If Traveling Overseas

  1. Get all routine care before traveling.
  2. If you need emergency care, go the nearest emergency facility. To find a provider:
    • Search online or call International SOS.
    • Before you leave the facility, contact International SOS Medical Assistance:
      • Eurasia-Africa: +44-20-8762-8133 
      • Latin America & Canada: 1-215-942-8320 
      • Pacific (Sydney): +65-6338-9277
      • Pacific (Singapore): +61-2-9273-2760
    • If you're admitted, International SOS will coordinate with the facility for payment, determine whether you should be transferred to another facility and coordinate emergency transport, if needed.
  3. If you need urgent care, contact the overseas contractor for a pre-authorization to use urgent care. If you don't contact the contractor for authorization, you may have to pay the provider and file a claim for reimbursement.
    • To find a provider overseas:
      • Search online or call International SOS
      • Keep a copy of all your receipts, overseas claims require proof of payment.

Need Prescriptions When Traveling?

We recommend that you get your prescriptions filled before you travel, but if you need a one filled while traveling you can:

  • Fill the prescription at the military pharmacy if one is nearby.
    • Call the pharmacy first to see if they have your prescription
  • Find the closest network pharmacy.
    • Available in the U.S. and U.S. Territories
    • If a network pharmacy isn't available, visit a non-network pharmacy.
  • Home delivery isn't recommended for a prescription you need right away. If you're taking a long vacation, you can arrange for any regular prescriptions to be filled via home delivery.

Learn more about your options for filling prescriptions.

Looking for information about the Prime Travel Benefit?

If you're referred for specialty careSpecialized medical/surgical diagnosis, treatment, or services a primary care provider isn’t qualified to provide. more than 100 miles from your primary care manager, you may qualify to have your travel expensesAmounts you pay when traveling to and from your appointment.  This includes mileage, meals, tolls, parking, lodging, local transportation, and tickets for public transportation. reimbursed. >>Learn More

Last Updated 6/30/2023