Does Tricare Cover Online Therapy? Coverage Guide 2026.
Tricare covers telehealth mental health for active duty service members, veterans, and military families — often at no cost.
Your specific Tricare plan (Prime, Select, For Life, etc.) determines your telehealth mental health benefits. This guide covers what most plans include.
Tricare and Online Therapy — What We Know
Coverage status: Yes — all plan types
Platforms commonly in-network: Talkspace (military partnership), Real, Headway
Typical cost with insurance: $0 for active duty; $0–30 for Tricare Select/Prime
Tricare is the health insurance program for US military members, retirees, and their families. All Tricare plans — Prime, Select, For Life, Young Adult, and Reserve Select — cover mental health and substance use services, including telehealth delivery.
Active duty members: Active duty service members typically have $0 cost-sharing for mental health services, including telehealth therapy. Services must be from a Tricare-authorized provider.
Tricare Prime and Select: Prime members pay no copay for in-network mental health services. Select members pay a cost-share (typically $25–46 per visit for mental health specialists) unless the provider is also a military treatment facility provider.
Talkspace for Military: Talkspace has a dedicated military program and is a Tricare-authorized provider, making it one of the most accessible telehealth therapy options for Tricare members. You can start with your Tricare insurance information to verify coverage.
Veterans: If you're a veteran using VA healthcare rather than Tricare, mental health services including telehealth are available through the VA's own network. Tricare For Life (the Medicare supplement for military retirees) also covers telehealth mental health.
What to Expect
Most plans that cover online therapy work the same way as in-person coverage. Once you're matched with an in-network provider, you pay your plan's mental health copay per session. If you haven't met your deductible yet, you may pay more until you hit that threshold — then your copay rate applies for the rest of the year.
Typical copay range: $0 for active duty; $0–30 for Tricare Select/Prime. Keep in mind this is an estimate — your actual cost depends on your specific plan, your deductible status, and whether the provider is in-network.
Always verify your exact coverage before your first session. Most platforms let you enter your insurance information during signup and will confirm whether you're covered before you pay anything.
How to Check Your Tricare Coverage
- Call the member services number on the back of your Tricare card and ask: "Does my plan cover telehealth mental health services?"
- Ask specifically: "Is telehealth therapy covered at the same copay as in-person therapy?"
- Ask: "Which telehealth platforms are in-network for mental health? Is [platform name] covered?"
- Ask: "What is my current deductible status for mental health benefits?"
Alternatively, log into your Tricare member portal online and navigate to "Benefits" or "Coverage Details" — look for the "Mental Health" or "Behavioral Health" section. Most member portals show your specific copay and deductible information.
Ready to Compare All Your Options?
See all 23 insurers and compare coverage options side by side.
Compare All Insurance OptionsWe're not therapists or insurance advisors — we're researchers who compiled publicly available information about insurance coverage for online therapy. Coverage information is general and may not reflect your specific plan. Always verify your exact benefits directly with Tricare before booking a session. Some links on this page may be affiliate links.
Insurance coverage depends on your specific plan, state, and provider. Copay estimates are based on averages and may vary significantly. We update regularly, but confirm current coverage directly with your insurer.