Urgent Care
Urgent care is care you need for a non-emergency illness or injury. You need urgent care treatment within 24 hours, and you shouldn't have to travel more than 30 minutes for the care. You typically need urgent care to treat a condition that:
- Doesn’t threaten life, limb or eyesight.
- Needs attention before it becomes a serious risk to health.
Examples may include things like a high fever or sprained ankle.
Looking for a provider? >>Learn more.
Nurse Advice Line
If it's after hours or you're not sure if you need to see a doctor, call TRICARE's Nurse Advice Line 24/7. Call 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273) — Option 1 to talk to a registered nurse who can:
Answer your urgent care questions - Give you health care advice
- Help you find a doctor
- Schedule next-day appointments at military hospitals and clinics
The Nurse Advice Line is available to all TRICARE beneficiaries in the U.S. except those enrolled in the US Family Health Plan. Beneficiaries who live overseas can call the Nurse Advice Line for health care advice when traveling in the U.S., but must coordinate care with their Overseas Regional Call Center.
TRICARE Prime PlansTRICARE Prime plans include: TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote, TRICARE Prime Overseas, TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas and TRICARE Young Adult-Prime
| If you are a(n)... | To get Urgent Care... |
|---|---|
| Active Duty Service Member Living in a TRICARE Prime Service Area1 | You should seek care at a military hospital or clinic when/ where available, or contact the Nurse Advice Line for assistance |
| Retiree or Retiree Family Member |
You can get urgent care from any TRICARE-authorized urgent care center or network provider1 |
| Active Duty Service Member Enrolled in TRICARE Prime Remote | |
| Active Duty Family Member | You don't need a referral |
1If you are a family member or retiree and seek urgent care from a non-network provider outside of a TRICARE authorized urgent care center, you will have to pay point-of-service option cost-shares.
TRICARE Select and All Other TRICARE Plans
| If you are a(n)... | To get Urgent Care... |
|---|---|
|
Active Duty Family Member
|
You don't need a referral |
| Retiree or Retiree Family Member |
You can get urgent care from any TRICARE-authorized urgent care center or network provider.2 |
2You will pay network or non-network copayments or cost-shares, depending on the type of provider you see.
US Family Health Plan
| If you are a(n)... | To get Urgent Care... |
|---|---|
|
US Family Health Plan Member
|
Visit your designated providers' website for details. |
Urgent Care Overseas
| If you are a(n)... | Seeking care... | To get Urgent Care... |
|---|---|---|
|
TRICARE plan stateside
|
Overseas while traveling |
You don't need a referral |
| Enrolled in TRICARE overseas plan |
Overseas |
You don't need a referral. However, to ensure your urgent care visit is cashless and claimless, you should get pre-authorization from the TRICARE overseas contractor. Otherwise, you may have to pay the provider up front and file a claim for reimbursement later. |
| Stateside while traveling | You don’t need a referral. You can get urgent care from any TRICARE authorized urgent care center or network provider.3, 4 |
3If you are enrolled in a TRICARE Prime plan and seek urgent care from a non-network provider outside of a TRICARE authorized urgent care center, you will have to pay point-of-service option cost-shares.
4Active Duty Service Members must follow up with their PCM when they receive care outside of a military hospital or clinic, in accordance with DoD and Service regulations.
This list of covered services is not all inclusive. TRICARE covers services that are medically necessaryTo be medically necessary means it is appropriate, reasonable, and adequate for your condition. and considered proven. There are special rules or limits on certain services, and some services are excluded.
Last Updated 11/18/2022