TRICARE is implementing significant improvements to its mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) benefits. Beginning Oct. 3, 2016, non-active duty dependent beneficiaries, retirees, their family members and survivors will generally pay lower co-payments and cost-shares for mental health care, such as $12 for outpatient mental health and SUD visits rather than the current rate of $25 per visit. Additional day limits for services such as partial hospitalization, residential substance use disorder care, smoking cessation counseling, and other mental health treatment will also be removed. TRICARE will expand its coverage of treatment options for substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder. Gender identity conflicts may be treated non-surgically by TRICARE-authorized providers effective Oct. 3.
For more on TRICARE benefits, visit the Military.com TRICARE section.
