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:

  • Nurse Advice Line Web Ad ImageAnswer 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.

Disclaimer:

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.

Call Ahead for Urgent Care Walk-in Availability
If the Nurse Advice Line refers you to a urgent care clinic, check with the clinic ahead of time to ensure they have walk-ins available. 

Last Updated 11/18/2022