TRICARE Mental Health Coverage for Military Families
Children of military families in the United States face unique pressures that can lead to higher rates of mental health concerns. For example, parental deployment and frequent moves add extra stress to a child’s life. As a parent, finding quality and affordable mental health care for your child is essential, but determining which services are covered by military mental health insurance, such as TRICARE, can be complicated.1
If you are insured by a TRICARE health plan and your child has been diagnosed with a mental health condition, this article is for you. We will discuss key aspects of TRICARE mental health coverage that can help you find appropriate treatment for your child, as well as covered Mission Prep services.
The following topics will be covered in detail:
- An introduction to TRICARE mental health coverage
- Levels of care for TRICARE behavioral health services
- Insurance benefits for teen mental health conditions
- What to know about TRICARE dual diagnosis coverage
- Verifying your TRICARE insurance with Mission Prep
Introduction to TRICARE Mental Health Coverage
TRICARE provides extensive coverage for military families managing mental health conditions. There are several different health plans under TRICARE, each with specific requirements related to seeking mental health treatment. For example, the TRICARE Prime plan does not require a referral to see an in-network outpatient mental health provider. Other plans, such as TRICARE Select and TRICARE For Life, are associated with different out-of-pocket costs for mental health providers.2
Telemedicine services are also included under TRICARE mental health benefits, allowing families to seek help via phone or video calls when in-person treatment is not possible.
Mission Prep offers TRICARE-covered mental health programs, and you can contact us to learn more about your options.
Levels of Care for Behavioral Health Services
Covered TRICARE behavioral health services may include office-based outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs, and residential care for children and teens. Understanding which level of treatment is appropriate for your child can help manage symptoms sooner. Depending on the severity of your child’s mental health condition, one or more of the levels of care discussed below may be recommended.3
Inpatient Mental Health Care
Serious mental health conditions, such as those that result in behaviors posing safety risks, may require a child to receive inpatient treatment at a general or psychiatric hospital. TRICARE inpatient mental health coverage is included to manage an acute episode. For example, if your child is experiencing a psychotic or major depressive episode, a mental health professional may determine that inpatient care is necessary for stabilization. Mission Prep has multiple inpatient mental health treatment facilities, and you can call us today to find out which is covered by your TRICARE plan.
Residential Treatment
If your child’s mental health condition is significantly impacting their daily life, but they do not need to remain in a hospital setting, residential treatment may be effective. TRICARE residential treatment coverage applies to beneficiaries under 21 years old based on medical necessity. Most of the time, receiving residential treatment will require pre-authorization, and you will need to find a TRICARE-authorized facility. Contact us today to learn more about Mission Prep’s residential treatment centers and what may be covered under your health plan.
Mental Health Rehab
Teens managing addictions and substance use disorders (SUD) may require specialized treatment at a mental health rehab facility. TRICARE mental health rehab coverage applies to those with a formal SUD diagnosis experiencing severe symptoms, including withdrawal symptoms. Some of the approved TRICARE facilities are detox centers and are partially or fully covered based on medical necessity. An important thing to note is that most TRICARE plans do not cover halfway houses, and any mental health rehab treatment received must be evidence-based.
IOP and PHP
Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP) are often TRICARE-covered mental health programs. These types of programs focus on providing structure for your child and supervision during a shortened day treatment, and may include individual therapy, group therapy, and ancillary therapies like art and music therapy. Mission Prep’s intensive outpatient programs can range from a few weeks to several months and typically run for three to five days per week. To find out which Mission Prep IOP program is covered by your TRICARE plan, contact us today.
Office-Based Therapy
Not all children managing mental health conditions will require a structured day program or 24/7 support. If your child is exhibiting less severe symptoms that do not significantly impair their day-to-day lives, they may benefit from office-based TRICARE therapy coverage. Therapy sessions can include individual, group, and family therapy depending on your child’s needs. Mission Prep provides a variety of outpatient therapy programs for teens, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based therapy, and more. If you’re looking for insurance-accepted treatment, Mission Prep can help you confirm whether our services fit within your TRICARE therapy coverage.
In addition to the services mentioned above, crisis and emergency support is available 24/7 via national hotlines such as 988 Lifeline and the Military Crisis Line.
Teen Mental Health Conditions Covered by TRICARE
Mental health conditions affect teenagers in a variety of ways. Whether your child is managing a mood disorder, thought disorder, anxiety, or another trauma-based condition, TRICARE mental health benefits cover specialized treatment that can be life-changing for your child. To better understand the teen mental health conditions commonly addressed, we break out a few of them in more detail below.
Depression
Major depression impacts millions of adolescents in the United States and can significantly impair daily functioning. If your child has recently been diagnosed with depression, there are a variety of treatment options available. TRICARE depression treatment coverage can include individual therapy sessions, intensive outpatient programs, inpatient treatment, and other levels of care, depending on your child’s needs. Being aware of any warning signs and intervening early increases the likelihood of positive treatment outcomes. Mission Prep treats teenage depression, beginning with a thorough assessment to determine the severity of your child’s condition. Contact us today to learn more about Mission Prep’s depression treatment options covered by your insurance plan.4
Anxiety Disorders
The number of teens diagnosed with any anxiety disorder has been increasing in recent years. If your child is managing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or another anxiety disorder, treatment options are available under your TRICARE plan. TRICARE anxiety therapy services can be delivered in an outpatient office setting, as part of a structured day program, or even within inpatient mental health facilities as needed. Finding the appropriate anxiety treatment covered by your plan is important for managing financial responsibilities. You can contact Mission Prep today to find out which of our teen anxiety treatment options are covered by your specific TRICARE plan.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Children growing up in military families may be exposed to additional traumatic life events associated with losing a parent, frequent deployments, and prolonged family separation. After being exposed to one or more traumatic events, your child may develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). TRICARE PTSD treatment encompasses multiple outpatient and inpatient mental health services, including modalities specifically aimed at processing trauma. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is one form of treatment that can be beneficial if your child is managing PTSD. Contact Mission Prep to learn more about our trauma-based therapy options covered by your TRICARE plan.5
In addition to depression, anxiety, and PTSD, there are many mental health conditions that can impact your child. Getting an appropriate diagnosis based on a thorough evaluation can help you decide where to begin looking for treatment.
TRICARE Dual Diagnosis Coverage
For teenagers diagnosed with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, TRICARE dual diagnosis coverage will play an important role in their treatment plan. Depending on your specific TRICARE plan, your child may be eligible for partially or fully covered residential treatment, medication-managed treatment, or detox facilities to address both conditions concurrently. By finding a specialized facility equipped to handle both types of conditions, you can set your child up with the right support they need during these trying times.
As we mentioned earlier, your specific TRICARE mental health benefits may vary based on your plan, so it is important to reach out to your insurance representative directly for official documentation. In addition, the next section of this article will help you verify your insurance benefits if you are already looking to begin care with Mission Prep.
Verifying Your TRICARE Insurance with Mission Prep
Before you make your first appointment with a mental health provider, it is recommended that you verify your TRICARE insurance benefits. This will help you determine which treatment options are fully or partially covered by your plan, as well as any additional financial responsibilities you can expect (i.e., deductibles, copayments, coinsurance).
If you would like your child to receive care at one of our Mission Prep facilities, follow these TRICARE insurance verification steps:
- Navigate to the insurance verification webpage, where you will find a fillable form.
- Complete the required form by providing your name, date of birth, contact information, and insurance details.
- Upload a copy of your TRICARE insurance card and any additional referral documentation that your specific plan requires.
- If you have any issues completing the steps above, contact Mission Prep for assistance. We will make sure you can successfully submit your insurance verification request.
After everything is submitted, someone from the Mission Prep team will reach out to you to review your benefits. We will discuss which Mission Prep treatment options are covered under your TRICARE plan and outline any additional payments required on your part. We hope to help you access quality and affordable mental health treatment for your child.
Mission Prep: Delivering Mental Health Treatment for Teens Covered by Your Insurance
Receiving treatment for your child’s mental health condition is just as important as seeking physical health care. Mission Prep can help you navigate your TRICARE mental health benefits and discover an appropriate treatment option for your child. We treat a wide range of teen mental health conditions and offer different levels of care depending on the severity of symptoms. Contact us today to speak to a member of our team, ask questions, and get clinical recommendations from a specialist.
References
- Huebner, C. R., Section on Uniformed Services, & Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health. (2019). Health and mental health needs of children in U.S. military families. Pediatrics, 143(1), e20183258. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-3258
- TRICARE. (2025). TRICARE is your partner in mental health care. https://newsroom.tricare.mil/News/TRICARE-News/Article/4186526/tricare-is-your-partner-in-mental-health-care
- TRICARE. (n.d.). Mental health care. https://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/Mental
- National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Major depression. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
- National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Any anxiety disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder
