Behavioral Health

Behavioral health encompasses mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services covered by TRICARE. These services address conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, and other psychological or behavioral conditions that are particularly relevant to the military community.

Behavioral health services covered by TRICARE: • Individual, group, and family therapy • Psychiatric evaluations and medication management • Inpatient psychiatric and substance use treatment • Intensive outpatient programs • Partial hospitalization programs • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for autism • Psychological testing and assessment • Crisis intervention

Access to behavioral health care: • TRICARE Prime: Referral from PCM for most services (self-referral allowed for first 8 outpatient sessions per year) • TRICARE Select: No referral needed; self-managed access • Emergency behavioral health: Always covered without prior authorization • Telehealth options widely available for behavioral health

Special programs for military families: • Military OneSource non-medical counseling (no TRICARE needed) • Military Family Life Counselors on installations • Specialized PTSD and trauma programs • Substance abuse treatment programs

TRICARE ensures behavioral health services are covered at parity with medical and surgical benefits, meaning coverage is comparable and not subject to more restrictive limitations.