What type of care is not covered under TRICARE Select when using non-authorized providers?

Under TRICARE Select, routine check-ups are not covered when using non-authorized providers. This program is designed to offer flexibility in choosing healthcare providers, but it does come with specific stipulations for services rendered by non-network providers.

While TRICARE does recognize and cover certain types of urgent, emergency, and preventive care even outside of its network, routine check-ups do not fall into these categories. Routine check-ups are considered non-urgent, preventive examinations that generally require an established relationship with a primary care provider within the network. When seeking care outside of the approved network, only emergencies or urgent care situations have the potential for coverage, as routine check-ups lack the urgent nature and can be avoided until care can be provided by a network provider.

This distinction is important for beneficiaries to understand, as it underscores the emphasis TRICARE places on maintaining a relationship with network providers for non-urgent and routine healthcare needs.