Military families often face heightened stress due to frequent relocations, long-term separations from loved ones, and the uncertainty of military life. These factors can contribute significantly to mental health issues among service members and their dependents.

TRICARE has limited coverage for beneficiaries to access remote mental health services while stationed Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS). TRICARE’s current OCONUS Telemedicine policy for mental health services makes it nearly impossible for individuals to maintain continuity of care of previously established stateside services or initiate new treatment services with stateside providers without undue financial burden. TRICARE’s recent policy enforcement created unanticipated financial hardship after previously covered claims were unexpectedly denied and limits access to care and poses significant challenges to those seeking these supportive services. Mental health is critical to overall well-being and should not be neglected due to geographical constraints. 

We call upon the Congressional House Armed Services Committee to compel the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to revise the telemedicine policy by removing the administrative barriers that considerably limit access to remote mental health care OCONUS (i.e., the requirement that stateside providers be dually licensed in the U.S. and host country). By expanding telemedicine access for mental health services to OCONUS beneficiaries, we can ensure that all military families receive the support they need - no matter where they are stationed.

Please sign this petition to support greater access to telemental health services for our military families OCONUS.
 

**Any information provided as part of this advocacy effort does not represent the views of the Department of Defense, the United States Government or its third party service providers.