TRICARE Overseas & International SOS (ISOS) Guide | TRICARE.com

For members of the military community living or traveling outside the United States, International SOS (ISOS) is the primary point of contact for healthcare. As the sole contractor for the TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP), ISOS manages a network of providers, facilitates emergency evacuations, and provides 24/7 medical assistance across three international regions.

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program. For official policy and the most current enrollment data, visit [TRICARE.mil](https://www.tricare.mil).*

## Quick answer International SOS (ISOS) is the private company contracted by the Defense Health Agency to manage the TRICARE Overseas Program. If you are stationed or traveling outside the 50 United States and D.C., ISOS acts as your "insurance company," handling your provider referrals, medical translations, and claims processing.

In detail

The TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP) is managed globally by International SOS. Unlike the U.S. regions (East and West), which are split between Humana and TriWest, ISOS handles all overseas areas under a single T-5 contract framework (though the overseas contract cycle follows its own schedule).

### Three Overseas Regions ISOS divides the world into three primary areas: * **Eurasia-Africa:** Includes Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. * **Latin America and Canada:** Includes Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Canada. * **Pacific:** Includes Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and island nations.

### Available Overseas Plans The level of involvement you have with ISOS depends on your plan: * **TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP) Prime:** Available to Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs) and their command-sponsored dependents. You have a Primary Care Manager (PCM) usually at a Military Medical Treatment Facility (MTF). ISOS manages referrals for any care that cannot be handled at the MTF. * **TOP Prime Remote:** For ADSMs and command-sponsored families living in remote areas. ISOS helps you find a vetted local provider and provides cashless, claim-less billing in most cases. * **TOP Select:** For retirees and non-command sponsored family members. You have more flexibility but higher out-of-pocket costs. You often have to pay upfront and file a claim for reimbursement through the ISOS portal.

### Key Services Provided by ISOS * **Medical Assistance:** 24/7 call centers staffed by doctors and nurses who can provide medical advice or coordinate emergency air evacuations. * **Provider Search:** A vetted database of English-speaking doctors who meet U.S. standards of care. * **Translation Services:** Real-time translation for medical emergencies and translation of medical records for claims processing. * **Claims Processing:** ISOS processes all TOP claims. For 2026, most claims can be filed through the secure TOP portal or via the TOP mobile app.

### 2026 Cost Shares and Fees (Select) Active duty families on TOP Prime generally have $0 out-of-pocket costs. For those on TOP Select in 2026: * **Individual Deductible (Group A):** Varies by rank; generally $150 per person or $300 per family. * **Catastrophic Cap:** $1,000 for Active Duty families; $4,395 for Retirees (2026 rates).

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Mandatory coverage under TOP Prime or Prime Remote. ISOS coordinates all civilian specialty care. * **Command-Sponsored Dependents:** Eligible for TOP Prime. They receive the highest level of ISOS support with minimal out-of-pocket costs. * **Non-Command Sponsored Dependents:** Generally must use TOP Select. While they can use ISOS to find providers, they often pay upfront for care. * **Retirees living abroad:** These beneficiaries use TOP Select. ISOS acts as their claims processor and provides a directory of overseas providers. * **Stateside beneficiaries traveling abroad:** If a TRICARE Prime member from Texas travels to Italy and has an emergency, they must contact ISOS Eurasia-Africa to coordinate care and authorization.

Common scenarios

### Scenario 1: Emergency in Japan (TOP Prime) An Active Duty spouse in Okinawa (TOP Prime) suffers a severe allergic reaction. They go to a local Japanese hospital. The family calls the ISOS Pacific regional call center. ISOS issues a "Guarantee of Payment" to the hospital so the family doesn't have to pay $2,500 upfront. ISOS then coordinates with the local MTF for follow-up care.

### Scenario 2: Routine Care in Germany (TOP Prime Remote) An Army recruiter living in a remote part of Germany needs a physical. Because there is no MTF nearby, they contact ISOS. ISOS identifies a vetted German GP, schedules the appointment, and ensures the provider knows how to bill TRICARE directly. The 2026 copay is $0.

### Scenario 3: Retiree in Panama (TOP Select) A Navy retiree living in Panama City visits a local cardiologist. Under TOP Select in 2026, the retiree pays the $150 visit fee out-of-pocket. They take the receipt, upload a photo to the ISOS portal, and ISOS reimburses them for the allowable amount (minus their 2026 deductible and 25% cost-share).

## Related terms * **Command Sponsored:** A formal designation where the military pays for a family member to live overseas; required for TOP Prime eligibility. * **Guarantee of Payment (GOP):** A document ISOS sends to an overseas hospital promising that TRICARE will pay, preventing the patient from having to pay upfront. * **Medical Evacuation (Medevac):** The emergency transport of a patient to a location with higher-level medical care, coordinated by ISOS. * **TRICARE Area Office (TAO):** The government regional office that provides oversight of the ISOS contract. * **TOP Portal:** The online dashboard managed by ISOS for enrollment, claims, and secure messaging.

## Sources * TRICARE Overseas Official Site: [tricare-overseas.com](https://www.tricare-overseas.com) * TRICARE.mil Overseas Program Guide: [tricare.mil/overseas](https://www.tricare.mil/overseas) * International SOS Government Services: [internationalsos.com](https://www.internationalsos.com) * Defense Health Agency T-5 Contract Info: [health.mil](https://health.mil)