Does TRICARE cover occupational therapy?

TRICARE provides coverage for occupational therapy (OT) services when they are medically necessary to help beneficiaries develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills. Covered conditions include rehabilitation after surgery or injury, stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury, developmental delays in children, fine motor skill deficits, and adaptive equipment training. Occupational therapy must be provided by a TRICARE-authorized occupational therapist and prescribed by a referring provider. Under TRICARE Prime, a referral from the primary care manager is required, while TRICARE Select allows direct access to network occupational therapists. TRICARE evaluates ongoing OT for continued medical necessity and functional progress. Active duty members receive OT at no cost, while family members and retirees pay standard copays. For children with disabilities, the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) may provide additional OT benefits beyond standard TRICARE coverage.