Emergency Care
Is it covered?
Covered by All Plans
TRICARE covers emergency care and services you get for a medical emergency.
Description
Emergency care is care for a sudden illness or injury that:
- Threatens your life, limb, sight, or safety
- Requires immediate medical treatment
If you reasonably believe you have an emergency, call 911 or your international emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.
Examples of emergencies include:
- Broken bones
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Maternity emergencies
- Psychiatric emergencies
- Severe bleeding
- Severe eye injuries
- Spinal cord or back injuries
Requirements
You don’t need a or to get emergency care. But you do need pre-authorization for inpatient admission and ongoing treatment.
Are you enrolled in a TRICARE Prime plan?
- Contact your primary care manager within 24 hours or the next business day after you get emergency care.
- Follow up with your primary care manager for a referral for all specialty care to avoid point-of-service fees.
Costs
Your costs depend on your plan, your beneficiary category, and where you get care. Check your health plan costs to find what applies to you.
Ambulance services and medical air evacuation have separate costs.
Disclaimer:
This list of covered services isn’t all-inclusive. TRICARE covers services that are and considered proven. Some services have special rules or limits, and some services are excluded. Learn how a benefit becomes covered.
Last Updated 10/2/2026