TRICARE Prime Distance and Drive Time Standards

Basically, to enroll in TRICARE Prime you need to live:

1. Inside a Prime Service Area, or
2. Within 100 miles of a primary care manager (PCM) 

Your Drive Time to a PCM Determines Where You Can Enroll

Your drive time will determine if you can select a military or network PCM.  See the following scenarios:

Scenario 1: You live within 30 minutes of a military hospital or clinic.

• You’ll likely be enrolled at the military hospital or clinic.
• Check with your regional contractor to see if you are eligible to select a network PCM.

Scenario 2: You live more than 30 minutes from a military hospital or clinic.

• The military hospital or clinic will decide if they can accept your enrollment request.
• You’ll need to waive your drive time standards (see below). 
• If you’re not able to enroll at the military hospital or clinic, you can select a network PCM.

Scenario 3: You live more than 30 minutes from a military hospital or clinic, but within 100 miles of a network PCM.

• You can select a network PCM.
• You’ll need to waive your drive time standards (see below).

Scenario 4: You live more than 100 miles from a military hospital or clinic.

• You can only enroll there if approved by the hospital or clinic commander and the Defense Health Agency TRICARE Health Plan Office.
• If not approved, you can select a network PCM (see Scenario 3).

Waiving Your Drive Time Standards

When you enroll in TRICARE Prime, you should expect to drive no more than:

• 30 minutes to your PCM for primary care
• 60 minutes for specialty careSpecialized medical/surgical diagnosis, treatment, or services a primary care provider isn’t qualified to provide.

These drive time standards don’t apply to active duty service members.

If you want to select a military or network PCM that’s outside of the 30-minute drive time standard, you’ll need to waive your drive time standards when you enroll. When you waive your drive time standards, you should expect to drive:

• More than 30 minutes to your PCM for primary care
• More than 60 minutes for specialty care  

If You Enroll	You Need To
On the Phone	Tell your regional contractor you want to waive your drive time standards
Online	Check the boxes in the "Compliance" section
In the Mail	Check the "Access to Care" waiver box (Section V) on the enrollment form

If You Can't Enroll in TRICARE Prime

If you're not sure about your plan options:

• Visit the Plan Finder
• Call your regional contractor

Some general guidelines:

Who are you?	You Can
Active Duty Service Member	Enroll in TRICARE Prime Remote
Active Duty Family Member	Enroll in TRICARE Prime Remote (if you live with your sponsor) Enroll in the US Family Health Plan (if available in your location) Use TRICARE Select
Retired Service Members and Family Members	Enroll in the US Family Health Plan (if available in your location) Use TRICARE Select