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When planning a trip overseas, you may ponder the sights to see and the foods to eat. Thoughts about health care may not even cross your mind. However, it is important to understand how TRICARE covers overseas care* in case you require medical attention.

Where You Seek Medical Care
Before leaving for an overseas destination, you should obtain routine care from your primary care manager (PCM) and fill prescription medications. To minimize out-of-pocket costs and the need to file claims, you should seek medical attention while traveling only in cases of urgent or emergency care.

Overseas MTFs
Always seek care at a military treatment facility (MTF) when possible. Overseas MTFs, like stateside MTFs, are managed and operated by the Military Health System and offer the best quality health care available. You can find a list of overseas MTFs by visiting www.tricare.mil/mtf/.

If you can't get to an MTF and need to seek care from a host nation hospital (i.e., in the country where you are traveling), contact the closest MTF. Overseas MTFs can provide you with a patient liaison who speaks the local language to help you make decisions at the host nation hospital. Overseas MTFs also can help you transfer to a different hospital, if needed.

Host Nation Facilities
If there is no MTF in the area in which you are traveling, active duty service members may contact International SOS, Inc., for help in choosing a hospital or provider.Active duty family members, as well as retired service members and their families, must seek care with a TRICAREcertified/ authorized provider. If you need assistance in finding a TRICARE-certified/authorized provider, contact the nearest MTF or the U.S. Embassy. You can also find a provider by visiting the TRICARE Standard Directory at www.tricare.mil/standardprovider/.

Remember, civilian health care in foreign countries can be quite different than what you are accustomed to in the United States. The TRICARE Area Office (TAO) Customer Service Center may be able to provide you with advice or assistance when seeking care. See page 2 for International SOS and TAO contact information.

In an emergency, always go directly to the nearest emergency room (ER). Once there, active duty service members or someone acting on their behalf must call International SOS or the nearest MTF for assistance.

When You Need Authorization
If you are receiving urgent or routine care overseas (either at an MTF or a host nation facility), you must contact your PCM or regional contractor (Humana Military) for a referral prior to seeking care. If you are receiving emergency care, you should go directly to the ER, and you or someone acting on your behalf should contact your PCM or regional contractor as soon as possible to ensure continuity of care.

How You File Claims
Your regional contractor processes claims for overseas care. In most cases, you will be required to pay for care up front and file a claim for reimbursement with your regional contractor when you return to your stateside region.

How You Fill Prescriptions
If you need to fill a prescription while traveling overseas, you should try to do so at an MTF, as this is your least costly option. If you fill a prescription at a host nation pharmacy, you will have to pay up front and file a claim for reimbursement once you return. If you are traveling in U.S. Territories overseas (Puerto Rico, Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands), you may use a TRICARE network retail pharmacy to fill your prescriptions. To locate a network pharmacy in those areas, visit http://member.express-scripts.com/tricare.

If you need more information prior to traveling, call your regional contractor, Humana Military, at 1-800-444-5445.

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