Naval Station Great Lakes TRICARE & Healthcare Guide

## Quick answer Naval Station (NS) Great Lakes, located in North Chicago, Illinois, is the Navy’s only boot camp and a major technical training hub. For TRICARE beneficiaries, this base falls under the **TRICARE East Region** managed by Humana Military, offering healthcare services through the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC)—the nation’s first fully integrated VA and Department of Defense medical facility.

In detail

Known as the "Quarterdeck of the Navy," NS Great Lakes is unique because its primary medical asset is a joint venture between the Navy and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Whether you are a recruit, a "school" student, or a permanent party member, your healthcare experience here differs slightly from other major bases.

### Healthcare Facilities: Lovell FHCC The **Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center** is the primary provider for TRICARE beneficiaries at Great Lakes. Because it is an integrated facility, it serves active duty sailors, their families, and veterans under one roof.

* **Main Hospital:** Located in North Chicago, providing emergency room services, specialty surgery, and inpatient care. * **Fisher Clinic:** Primarily serves active duty personnel and "A" school students located on the main side of the base. * **USS Red Rover:** The dedicated clinic for recruits transitioning through basic training.

### TRICARE Plan Options at Great Lakes Since NS Great Lakes is in the **East Region** (managed by Humana Military), beneficiaries generally choose between these primary plans:

### Pharmacy Services Prescriptions can be filled at the Lovell FHCC pharmacy with $0 copays. For those using civilian providers in the North Chicago or Libertyville areas, **Express Scripts** manages the retail pharmacy network and home delivery.

* **Retail Network:** Most local CVS, Walgreens, and grocery store pharmacies participate. * **2026 Costs:** For a 30-day supply of a brand-name formulary drug at a retail pharmacy, expect a copay around $48.

### Dental Coverage Active duty sailors receive dental care at base clinics (e.g., Osborne Dental Clinic). Family members are typically covered under the **TRICARE Dental Program (TDP)**, managed by United Concordia, which requires a separate monthly premium.

Who this applies to

* **Recruits:** Automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime; all care is managed through the USS Red Rover clinic during boot camp. * **"A" School Students:** Enrolled in TRICARE Prime; care is usually coordinated through Fisher Clinic. * **Permanent Party & Families:** Can choose between Prime (MTF-centered) or Select (civilian-centered). * **Retirees:** Living in the Great Lakes/Chicago area, retirees may use Lovell FHCC on a space-available basis or use TRICARE Select with off-base providers.

Common scenarios

**The "A" School Student:** A Seaman Apprentice finishes boot camp and stays at Great Lakes for "A" School. They remain on TRICARE Prime. While training, they develop a sinus infection. They visit the Fisher Clinic on base for a same-day appointment. Their out-of-pocket cost is **$0**.

**The Permanent Party Family:** A Petty Officer Second Class is stationed at Great Lakes. Her spouse and two children choose **TRICARE Select** to keep seeing a pediatrician in nearby Libertyville. For a standard office visit in 2026, they pay a 15–20% cost-share after meeting their annual deductible.

**The Local Retiree:** A retired Navy Commander lives in Gurnee, IL. He uses **TRICARE For Life** because he is 65+ and has Medicare. He gets his maintenance medications via Express Scripts Home Delivery. In 2026, he pays approximately $16 for a 90-day supply of a generic medication.

Related terms

* **Lovell FHCC:** The integrated VA/DoD hospital serving Great Lakes. * **Humana Military:** The current TRICARE East regional contractor. * **DEERS:** The database (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System) that must be updated immediately upon arriving at Great Lakes. * **Catastrophic Cap:** The maximum amount you will pay out-of-pocket for covered TRICARE services each calendar year. * **T-5 Contract:** The current TRICARE contract cycle that refined regional boundaries and contractor responsibilities.

Sources

* **TRICARE.mil - Lovell FHCC:** https://www.tricare.mil/MTF/Lovell * **Humana Military:** https://www.humanamilitary.com/ * **Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Official Site:** https://www.va.gov/lovell-federal-health-care-va/ * **Express Scripts TRICARE:** https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/

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*Disclosure: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program. For official policy and enrollment, visit TRICARE.mil.*