Navigating TRICARE Coverage for Urgent Care: What Active Duty Service Members Need to Know

Can Active Duty Personnel Go to a Civilian Urgent Care?

As an active duty member, you have access to urgent care services without needing any referral or prior authorization, according to the TRICARE website. Urgent care services are available for unexpected medical needs that require prompt attention but are not considered to be life-threatening emergencies. Examples of such situations, according to TRICARE, include minor injuries, fever, sore throat, and flu-like symptoms.

It's important to note that urgent care services are not a substitute for emergency care. If you have a life-threatening injury or the symptoms of a severe illness, you should always call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room, advises TRICARE.

When to go to Urgent Care

According to TRICARE, there are several situations when you should consider going to urgent care—including:

• Symptoms of a cold or flu-like illness
• Symptoms of a UTI
• Possible exposure or symptoms of an STD
• Men's and women’s preventative healthcare
• Minor injuries, including lacerations that may need stitches or a broken bone that needs casting
• Immunizations

Additionally, if you are traveling away from your primary care office and need medical attention for a chronic condition, urgent care clinics may be more accessible than finding and going to a military treatment facility.

The Benefits Of Going to Urgent Care

Unexpected illnesses or injuries can happen at any time. Luckily, urgent care clinics offer a convenient and cost-effective alternative to emergency rooms for many non-life-threatening conditions. Below you’ll find more about the different benefits of going to urgent care when compared to emergency rooms and primary care offices.

Convenience Of Urgent Care Clinics

Illnesses and injuries can happen at any time—and often they happen at the most inconvenient times. This is why many urgent care clinics have extended hours, which may include weekends and evenings.

Shorter Wait Times Compared To Emergency Rooms

Urgent care clinics also typically have shorter wait times than emergency rooms. In fact, Urgent Care of Omaha reports that around 57% of urgent care patients experience a wait time average of only 15 minutes. This is important for many people, especially those who need to get back to work or school quickly.

Lower Cost Compared To Emergency Rooms

Urgent care clinics are often a more cost-effective option when compared to emergency rooms. The cost of a trip to the emergency room is around 10 times more expensive than urgent care, according to Debt.org. This is really important for many Americans, especially those who don’t have a lot of disposable income.

Referral to Specialized Care When Needed

Urgent care providers are licensed healthcare providers who are able to give you referrals or recommendations for specialized care when you need it. This is important for people who have chronic health conditions, or who suffer an injury that may need rehabilitation.

Going to Civilian Urgent Care as an Active Duty Member

As an active duty member of the armed forces, you have access to TRICARE insurance—which includes coverage for urgent care visits at clinics that are a part of the TRICARE civilian network. According to the TRICARE website, there are many urgent care clinics and primary care physicians who are members of the TRICARE civilian network. You can find an urgent care that accepts TRICARE by searching the TRICARE website, and filtering the results to your region.

Tricare Coverage For Urgent Care Visits

TRICARE offers coverage for urgent care visits for a range of medical conditions, including but not limited to:

• Allergic reactions
• Broken bones
• Cuts that may require stitches
• Dehydration
• Ear infections
• Fever
• Flu-like symptoms
• Minor burns
• Sprains and strains
• Urinary tract infections

However, your specific TRICARE coverage will depend on your plan. It is always best to understand your specific plan coverage, especially before the event of needing urgent care. You can find out more about your TRICARE plan coverage by reviewing your plan documents or signing into the TRICARE website.

Finding An In-Network Urgent Care Facility

To ensure that you receive maximum coverage for your urgent care visit, it's important to find an urgent care clinic that is “in-network”—in other words, an urgent care clinic that is a member of the TRICARE civilian network.

You can find an in-network urgent care facility by using the TRICARE website or mobile app. Simply enter your location and select "urgent care" as the service type. You can also call the TRICARE Nurse Advice Line for assistance in finding an in-network urgent care facility.

What to Bring When You Visit Urgent Care

When you visit an urgent care clinic, be sure to bring your military ID card, your TRICARE insurance card, and any medical documents, such as your medical history or medication list. If possible, you can call ahead to the clinic to confirm that they accept TRICARE and to ask about any specific documentation or information that they may require.

Additional things you may want to bring to urgent care include:

• Information about your billing or mailing address
• Information on how to contact your next of kin

While most urgent care visits are done in a timely manner, you may have an extended wait time if the clinic is busy or if you have to wait for test results. To be best prepared, consider bringing:

• A cell phone charger
• Water and a snack
• Comfortable clothing

What to Expect During Your Urgent Care Visit

When you arrive at an urgent care clinic, you will first need to check in with the front desk. You may be asked to provide identification, and your TRICARE insurance information at this time. If you have never visited this urgent care clinic in the past, there may be new patient forms that you will need to fill out.

After checking in you may be evaluated by a triage nurse, or you may be instructed to wait in a waiting room until a provider is available to see you. Lastly, you will be seen by a medical provider who will assess your condition, order diagnostic testing, and provide treatment recommendations based on your symptoms and medical history. If necessary, the provider may refer you to a specialist or recommend further follow-up care.

Conditions Commonly Treated at Urgent Care

Each urgent care clinic will have its own policy on what conditions they are willing to treat and what conditions must be diverted to an emergency room. According to Instant Urgent Care, some conditions that are commonly treated at urgent care include:

• Sore throat, and other symptoms of cold or flu
• Symptoms of COVID-19
• UTIs
• STDs
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Fever that doesn’t go away with fever-reducing medication
• Small cuts or lacerations that may need stitches
• Simple fractures
• Back pain
• Allergic reactions and skin rashes
• Routine physicals (like sports physicals, school physicals or DOT physicals)
• Women’s healthcare needs
• Men’s healthcare needs
• Immunizations

If you’re unsure if your medical condition can be treated at urgent care, you can call the urgent care clinic or a nurse helpline for more guidance.

Urgent Care vs. Emergency Rooms

It's important to understand the differences between urgent care and emergency rooms, so you can better understand where to go when you need care.

Urgent care clinics are designed to provide prompt treatment for non-life-threatening conditions (like colds and flu, UTIs, STDs, simple fractures, minor cuts, and routine physicals). Emergency rooms, on the other hand, are designed to handle serious or life-threatening conditions (like heart attacks, strokes, trauma, and severe allergic reactions). If you are experiencing signs of a medical emergency, you should go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 right away.

Military-Specific Urgent Care Facilities

As an active duty member, you may have access to military-specific urgent care facilities. These facilities are designed to provide care specifically for military members and their families. These facilities may be cheaper or completely free, according to the TRICARE website.

The TRICARE website also notes that there is a shortage of these facilities, so you may end up needing to travel a longer distance or experience a longer wait time.

Mental Health Urgent Care

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, you should be able to seek help at an urgent care clinic, according to the Department of Behavioral Health. However, there are some urgent care clinics that specialize in mental health. These specialized clinics are designed to provide prompt treatment for mental health conditions and can help prevent a crisis from escalating.

Communicating With Urgent Care Providers

To ensure that you receive the best possible care, it's important to communicate effectively with your urgent care provider. To do this, Solv offers these tips:

• Provide accurate information about your current symptoms and medical history
• Provide a detailed list of any medications you are taking, including vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter medications
• Be honest about any alcohol and tobacco use
• Be honest about any substance abuse or drug use
• Be honest about your mental health and emotions
• Ask questions if you don't understand something

Lastly, it is important to follow your urgent care provider's treatment plan. This may or may not include rehabilitation and follow-up recommendations.

What To Do If Your Provider Recommends Further Treatment Or Follow-Up

If your urgent care provider recommends further treatment or follow-up care, it's important to follow their recommendations. This may include scheduling a follow-up appointment with your primary care provider, seeking care from a specialist, or undergoing additional testing. By following the provider's recommendations, you can help ensure that you recover completely or manage your chronic condition in the best possible way.

Urgent Care Can Help Your Overall Health And Well-Being

Urgent care clinics are not designed to replace a primary care doctor, however, they can be a valuable source for supplementing your primary care and staying on top of your health when you are unable to see your primary care physician.

Recap: The Importance of Urgent Care For Active Duty Members

Understanding your TRICARE coverage is important for helping you make informed decisions about your healthcare, and avoiding unexpected medical debt. Since urgent care clinics are a convenient and cost-effective choice for getting healthcare, understanding how TRICARE works with civilian urgent care is also important. By understanding your coverage and which urgent care clinics are in-network with your TRICARE plan now, you can be prepared for when an urgent care situation arises.