TRICARE Telehealth Coverage & Costs (2026 Guide)

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program or the Defense Health Agency. For official policy and enrollment, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer TRICARE covers telehealth (virtual care) services that are medically necessary and mirrors the coverage provided for in-person visits. You can see a doctor via secure video or phone for primary care, mental health, and many specialty consultations, typically paying the same copay or cost-share as you would for an office visit.

## In detail TRICARE’s telehealth benefit allows beneficiaries to receive care from home or any private location using high-speed internet and a computer or smartphone. This benefit is managed by your regional contractor—**Humana Military** in the East or **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** in the West.

### Types of Covered Virtual Care * **Video Appointments:** Real-time visual and audio interaction with a provider. * **Audio-Only Appointments:** Phone consultations (permissible for certain medical and behavioral health services). * **Asynchronous (Store-and-Forward):** Sharing medical data, images, or records for a provider to review at a later time (common in dermatology or radiology). * **Remote Patient Monitoring:** Tracking chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension via digital devices.

### Referral and Authorization Requirements Referral rules for telehealth are identical to in-person care rules: * **TRICARE Prime:** You generally need a referral from your Primary Care Manager (PCM) for specialty telehealth care. Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs) always need a referral for non-military facility care. * **TRICARE Select:** No referrals are required for most telehealth services if using a TRICARE-authorized provider.

### 2026 Costs and Copays As of 2026, telehealth costs are aligned with in-person visit rates. If you have an appointment that would normally cost $37 in an office, it will cost $37 via video.

*Note: Costs vary by beneficiary group (Group A vs. Group B). Check TRICARE.mil/costs for specific 2026 updates.*

### Finding a Virtual Provider 1. **Directly through your doctor:** Ask if your current PCM offers video visits. 2. **Regional Provider Directories:** Use the Humana Military (East) or TriWest (West) search tools and filter for "Telehealth." 3. **Third-Party Platforms:** TRICARE users often use services like Doctor On Demand or Teledoc, provided they are in-network for your specific region.

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members:** Can use telehealth but must coordinate through their Military Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) or get a referral for civilian virtual care. * **Active Duty Family Members:** Have broad access to telehealth with $0 copays on Prime plans. * **Retirees and Families:** Can use telehealth for primary care and mental health to reduce travel time, subject to standard cost-shares. * **TRICARE For Life (TFL):** Medicare is the primary payer for TFL; if Medicare covers the telehealth visit, TRICARE typically covers the remaining cost-share.

Common scenarios

**Scenario 1: Mental Health in the West Region** Sarah is a Navy spouse on TRICARE Prime living in a rural area of Nevada. She wants to see a therapist. Since TRICARE does not require a referral for office-based mental health visits for family members, she finds an in-network provider through **TriWest**. Her 2026 copay is $0 because she is an Active Duty Family Member on Prime.

**Scenario 2: Specialist Consultation in the East Region** Mark is a retired Army veteran on TRICARE Select (Group A) living in Florida. He needs a follow-up with a cardiologist. He uses a telehealth app supported by **Humana Military**. Because he is on Select, he does not need a referral. His 2026 copay for the specialist virtual visit is approximately $52 (the same as an in-person specialist visit).

**Scenario 3: Overseas Care** An Air Force family stationed in Germany uses the **International SOS** network. They access a "Global Telehealth" portal for a pediatric consultation regarding a localized rash. The service is provided in English and is covered with no out-of-pocket cost for the Active Duty family.

## Related terms * **Originating Site:** The location where the patient is located during the telehealth session (usually the patient's home). * **Distant Site:** The location where the healthcare provider is located during the session. * **Telemental Health:** A specific subset of telehealth focused on psychiatric and psychological services. * **HIPAA-Compliant Platform:** Digital software (like Zoom for Healthcare or certain portals) that meets federal privacy standards for medical data. * **T-5 Contract:** The current managed care contract (started 2025) that governs how TriWest and Humana administer benefits like telehealth.

## Sources * TRICARE.mil Telehealth Page: https://www.tricare.mil/telehealth * Humana Military (East) Provider Directory: https://www.humanamilitary.com/ * TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West): https://www.triwest.com/ * TRICARE Costs (2026): https://www.tricare.mil/costs