Active Duty Service Members
While your rules for getting care are basically the same, there are minor differences based on which plan you're enrolled in.
- Call your primary care manager (PCM) to schedule an appointment.
- You must have a referral from your PCM for any care he or she can't provide.
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Your PCM works with your regional contractor for the referral and authorization.
- Your contractor will try to refer you to a military hospital or clinic first.
- If not available, you're referred to a network provider (in your region).
Your Primary Care Manager
| TRICARE Prime |
- May be a military hospital or clinic or a network provider.
- If enrolled to a military hospital or clinic, you can book some appointments online.
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| TRICARE Prime Remote |
- May or may not have an assigned PCM depending on the network providers in your remote location.
- If you don't have an assigned PCM, you can use any TRICARE-authiorized proveder as your PCM
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| TRICARE Prime Overseas |
- You'll have an assigned PCM at a military hospital or clinic
- You'll get most care from your assigned PCM
- Call International SOS if you need an appointment with an overseas provider
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| TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas |
- Contact your Regional Call Center to schedule all appointments.
- In Canada, you'll get most care from your PCM at a Canadian Forces Health Facility. For help finding a provider, contact the Canadian Forces Medical Group at 1-613-945-6653.
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Types of Care
You'll have different access standards and rules for the type of care you need:
| Emergency Care |
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| Urgent Care |
- Urgent care is care needed for conditions such as a sprain, sore throat or rising temperature.
- You can expect to get an urgent care appointment within 24 hours (1 day), even if you are traveling.
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| Routine Care |
- Routine (primary) care includes general office visits for the treatment of symptoms, chronic or acute illnesses and diseases and follow-up care for an ongoing medical condition.
- You can expect to receive a routine care appointment within 1 week (7 days)
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| Specialty Care |
- You can expect to get a specialty care appointment within 4 weeks (28 days)
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| Preventive Care |
- Preventive services are health screenings, tests and examinations.
- You'll usually get these during regular office visits.
- You can expect to get an appointment within 4 weeks (28 days).
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