Using TRICARE Coverage for Mental Health Care Treatment
Military families and active duty service members may ask themselves: Does TRICARE cover mental health services? TRICARE mental health benefits cover mental health care services, with TRICARE authorized providers offering the highest level of care for the fewest out-of-pocket costs.
TRICARE, which the Health Defense Agency manages, allows military members and their loved ones to seek counseling, couples therapy, online counseling, and crisis support. But understanding what TRICARE covers medically is the key to unlocking the most benefits.
Our guide will explain your TRICARE benefits and explain how Icarus Wellness and Recovery in Boise can help you streamline the referral and pre-authorization process.
An Overview of TRICARE Mental Health Services Offered
TRICARE members receive a wide range of mental health services. Those who are eligible usually include active duty service members (ADSMS), veterans, military retirees, active duty National Guard members, and their families. TRICARE covers treatments including:
- Psychiatric care
- Treatment by a licensed therapist or psychiatrist
- Psychiatry evaluations
- Medication management
- Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment
- Inpatient hospitalization or outpatient treatment, as needed
- Behavioral health services
- Family counseling
- Online therapy options
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TRICARE Covered Services Depend on the Plan Type
The coverage levels depend on your particular TRICARE insurance plan. It can vary based on whether you have:
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Select
- TRICARE Young Adult
- TRIWEST Healthcare Alliance
- TRICARE Reserve Select
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Retired Reserve
- Other plans
Because the plans have differences, it’s a good idea to call the Icarus Idaho admission staff. We will listen to learn about the unique challenges you’re facing, explain whether you need a referral or pre-authorization, and then handle the entire process for you. We help you lower costs by avoiding costly mistakes. It’s free and confidential to call us.
What the Defense Health Agency Says About Mental Health Coverage
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) manages the TRICARE plans, with a goal of ensuring that military members and their families receive access to high-quality health care, including mental health services. DHA policies allow the TRICARE network to cover medically necessary care for better behavioral health.
They also set standards to ensure service members receive psychologically sound care and access to resources, whether they receive in-person treatment through the military health system, with a civilian provider, or while accessing telehealth services due to deployment.
Mental Health Support for Active Duty, Veterans, and Military Families
TRICARE acknowledges that service members and their families face many challenges to their well-being. Active duty personnel may have long separations from their family members or return home with post-traumatic stress disorder, learning to cope with traumatic experiences.
Because of these challenges, active duty service members (ADSMS) usually receive TRICARE Prime, with no out-of-pocket costs when they seek treatment from a military or in-network provider.
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Individual, Group, and Couples Therapy Under TRICARE Coverage
What types of therapies are covered by TRICARE? All services vary depending on the particular TRICARE plan. Generally, a TRICARE-authorized provider can provide the following types of therapies:
- Individual therapy for addressing PTSD, anxiety, depression, and grief. Clients meet with a licensed therapist to work through their struggles and master coping strategies so they can move forward.
- Group therapy is also covered, providing a supportive environment with peers who understand the client’s challenges. Groups may focus on avoiding future controlled substance use, grief and loss, or re-entering civilian life after service.
- Couples therapy, sometimes overlooked, is also covered by TRICARE. It helps both partners in facing communication problems, conflict resolution, and long separations. Couples treatment can support good mental health for all family members, as children benefit from stronger parents.
Working with Icarus Wellness and Recovery helps ensure sessions are effective – and billed correctly through TRICARE.
Accessing Online Therapy and Mental Health Providers Through TRICARE
TRICARE clients have access to secure, HIPAA-compliant online therapy options. Whether you’re stationed overseas or just prefer online therapy, live sessions via video can connect you with in-network psychiatrists.
You may speak with mental health providers based at military hospitals or in civilian networks. Either way, TRICARE covers online therapy services the same as in-person visits from a cost standpoint – there’s no extra fee for this convenience.
When Mental Health Concerns Require Immediate Help
Some mental health care situations cannot wait. If you or a loved one has experienced suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, severe panic, or any mental health emergency, you need to reach out for immediate help. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room to receive stabilization services. TRICARE usually covers emergency care received at either a civilian provider or a military treatment facility.
An example of this is ‘Sarah,’ a soldier’s wife dealing with grief after her husband passed away in an on-base training accident. Sarah felt that she would never recover from this tragic loss. She began drinking and using prescription drugs to numb her emotional pain. No matter how much she drank, she couldn’t erase the memory of her husband and move on.
She began calculating how many pills it would take to end her life. Sarah’s sister understood the gravity of the situation and took her to the nearest hospital, later helping her connect with Icarus Wellness for grief counseling. With several months of outpatient therapy, Sarah’s pain has lessened, but she’s still attending treatment to continue developing coping tools for her grief.
TRICARE-Covered Emergency Care for Mental Health Crises
Once stable after a crisis, TRICARE requires notification to continue coverage – usually within 24 hours. If you come to Icarus Wellness and Recovery within that time frame after the emergency has passed, our team will coordinate your mental health services to get your benefits approved.
We can work with your primary care provider or case manager, handling the finer details and getting coverage in place while you continue to receive top-notch mental health care.
TRICARE and Non-Emergency Care for Ongoing Mental Health Concerns
TRICARE provides excellent mental health coverage for ongoing conditions like anxiety, depression, or PTSD. You’re likely eligible for psychiatry consultations, therapy, and other mental health services with in-network providers.
However, non-urgent mental health care does often need a referral from your primary care manager. You’re most likely to need a referral or pre-authorization under TRICARE Prime.
Preapprovals and Referrals for TRICARE Mental Health Services Covered
TRICARE’s referral and authorization process can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with challenges to your mental well-being. Depending on your TRICARE insurance plan, you may need a referral from your primary care manager to start treatment. This can vary based on plan details.
Icarus Wellness and Recovery in Boise can take care of this for you. We’ll integrate all your health care services to minimize costs and help you access all the services you’re entitled to.
Icarus Wellness Offers a Free TRICARE Insurance Review
Are you unsure where to start in understanding your TRICARE mental health benefits? Our admission representatives simplify the process for you.
Call us – we’ll immediately conduct a free insurance review to help you learn what types of therapy you and your family members may receive. No pressure or obligations.
Even more importantly, we won’t just tell you about your coverage and expected costs. We will work behind the scenes to make sure you find the right psychiatry professional within the TRICARE system. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you can attend therapy without any concerns about the cost.
Up To 100% of Rehab Costs Covered By TRICARE
Start Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatment at Icarus Today
When you or your family member is ready to heal, Icarus Boise will be there to help. Our treatment center offers evidence-based, holistic mental health treatment and therapy services. We are a Joint Commission-accredited facility and offer individualized treatment plans to suit each client’s needs.
You’ve served and sacrificed. Now it’s our turn – let our team serve your mental health needs.
Call our treatment center today to schedule a confidential consultation and verify your TRICARE insurance plan benefits. We will help you make huge strides on the path to enjoying life again.
