Does TRICARE cover home birth?

Direct answer: Yes, stateside only — TRICARE covers a planned home birth, subject to referral and pre-authorization requirements, but home births are not covered overseas.

Applies to: All TRICARE plans · All regions

Details

TRICARE only covers midwife services from a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board — lay midwives, Certified Professional Midwives, and Certified Midwives are not covered, regardless of state licensing. State regulations on who may legally attend a home birth apply on top of TRICARE’s own rules, so check both your state’s rules and your regional contractor’s pre-authorization requirements before planning one.

What to do next

Confirm this with your Primary Care Manager or regional contractor before scheduling — rules can vary by region and by service.