Does TRICARE Cover Mental Health? 2026 Guide to Costs & Rules
## Quick answer Yes, TRICARE covers a wide range of mental health and substance use disorder services, ranging from traditional outpatient therapy to emergency inpatient psychiatric care. Most beneficiaries do not need a referral for outpatient office visits with a TRICARE-authorized provider, though active duty service members always require a referral and authorization for any specialty care.
## Details TRICARE’s mental health coverage is divided into "emergency" and "non-emergency" care. Coverage varies slightly depending on your plan (Prime vs. Select) and your beneficiary status (Active Duty vs. Retiree/Family Member).
*Note: TRICARE.Com is an independent reference site and is not an official government entity. For official policy, visit TRICARE.mil.*
### Covered Services TRICARE generally covers: * **Outpatient Psychotherapy:** Individual, family, or group sessions. * **Inpatient Care:** Psychiatric emergencies or residential treatment for children and adolescents. * **Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP):** Day programs for intensive treatment without staying overnight. * **Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP):** More structured than standard therapy, typically several hours a day, multiple days a week. * **Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment:** Including detoxification and rehabilitation. * **Telemental Health:** Video-conferencing sessions with authorized providers (highly popular in the West region under TriWest and East under Humana Military).
### Costs and Copays (2026 Rates) Costs depend on your "Group" (Group A joined before Jan 1, 2018; Group B joined after) and your specific plan.
* **TRICARE Prime:** Active duty service members and their families typically pay **$0** for covered mental health services from network providers. * **TRICARE Select (Retirees):** In 2026, network outpatient mental health visits for Group A retirees typically carry a copayment of roughly **$38–$40 per visit**, while Group B may see slightly different scheduled rates. * **Point-of-Service (POS):** If you are on Prime and see a mental health provider without a referral (when one is required), you will face a **50% cost-share** after your deductible is met.
### Referral Requirements * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** You **must** have a referral and prior authorization for ALL mental health care (inpatient or outpatient) to ensure your MTF is aware of your readiness status. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** No referral is needed for outpatient office visits (e.g., therapy) with a TRICARE-authorized provider. However, authorization *is* required for psychoanalysis and some intensive programs. * **Retirees and others:** Generally do not need a referral for standard outpatient therapy with authorized network providers.
### The "T-5" West Region Update Effective January 1, 2025, **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** took over as the West Region contractor. If you are in the West Region, ensure your mental health provider is credentialed with TriWest to avoid out-of-network "Select" costs or POS charges.
## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Highest level of oversight; full coverage but requires referrals. * **Active Duty Family Members:** Flexible access to outpatient care; $0 cost on Prime. * **Retirees and Families:** Covered under Prime or Select; subject to annual deductibles and per-visit copays. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Covered via TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) with similar rules to TRICARE Select. * **Survivors:** Maintain coverage levels based on their plan type.
## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Mental Health Overview](https://www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth) * **Humana Military (East):** [Behavioral Health Services](https://www.humanamilitary.com) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** [Mental Health Care for Veterans and Families](https://www.triwest.com) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [Mental Health Benefit Policies](https://health.mil)