TRICARE Mental Health Crisis: Emergency Coverage & Costs
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## Quick answer In a mental health crisis, you can seek immediate care at any emergency room or by calling 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) without prior authorization. For urgent but non-life-threatening needs, TRICARE covers inpatient psychiatric care and crisis stabilization, though specific referral rules vary based on whether you are active duty or a civilian beneficiary.
Details
### Immediate Emergency Response If you or a family member are in immediate danger of self-harm or hurting others, go to the nearest hospital emergency room or call 911. You do not need to call your Primary Care Manager (PCM) first. TRICARE covers all medically necessary emergency services. * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Should notify their command and PCM within 24 hours of being admitted to an emergency facility. * **Other Beneficiaries:** No prior authorization is needed for emergency psychiatric admissions, but the facility must notify the regional contractor (Humana Military in the East or TriWest in the West) within 24 hours or on the next business day.
### Costs and Copays (2026 rates) Mental health crisis care costs depend on your plan and beneficiary status: * **Active Duty:** $0 for all emergency and inpatient mental health care. * **TRICARE Prime (Retirees/Families):** $0 for emergency room visits if admitted; otherwise, standard ER copays apply (approx. $75–$80 in 2026). * **TRICARE Select (Group A):** Network ER visits typically cost a flat fee (approx. $100–$150), while inpatient mental health care may incur a per-diem charge or a percentage of the allowable charge.
### Non-Emergency Crisis Resources If you are in crisis but do not require an ER, TRICARE provides several avenues for rapid help: * **Telemental Health:** TRICARE covers secure video conferencing for therapy and psychiatric evaluations. Appointments are often available faster than in-person visits. * **988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:** This is a free, 24/7 service available to everyone in the U.S. and is compatible with military-specific support (Press 1 for the Military Crisis Line). * **Nurse Advice Line:** Available 24/7 at 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273), Option 1, to help determine if your situation requires an ER or an urgent care clinic.
### Inpatient vs. Residential Treatment For long-term stabilization, TRICARE covers: * **Inpatient Psychiatric Care:** For acute stabilization of severe symptoms (no age limit). * **Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs):** Specifically for children and adolescents under age 21 who require a structured environment. * **Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP):** Intensive day treatment (usually 6+ hours) for those who do not require 24/7 supervision but cannot function in standard outpatient care.
## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Always covered with $0 out-of-pocket, though command notification is required for inpatient stays. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Covered under Prime or Select; no referral is needed for the first 8 outpatient mental health visits per year (office-based), but ER/Inpatient is always covered. * **Retirees and Families:** Covered under Prime or Select, subject to applicable 2026 cost-shares. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) have access to crisis care at the same rates as Group B Select beneficiaries.
## Sources * **TRICARE Mental Health Care:** [https://www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth](https://www.tricare.mil/mentalhealth) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region):** [https://www.triwest.com](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military (East Region):** [https://www.humanamilitary.com](https://www.humanamilitary.com) * **Military Crisis Line:** [https://www.veteranscrisisline.net](https://www.veteranscrisisline.net)