How to Submit a Superbill to TRICARE

TRICARE serves active duty military members, retirees, and their dependents through two regional contractors. Submitting an OON therapy superbill as a TRICARE beneficiary requires knowing which region you are in and which portal to use.

Overview: TRICARE and Out-of-Network Mental Health Benefits

TRICARE is the federal health program for uniformed service members, retirees, and their families. TRICARE is divided into two regions for non-active-duty claims: TRICARE West (administered by Leidos Health/HealthNet Federal Services at www.tricare-west.com) and TRICARE East (administered by Humana Military at humana-military.com). Identifying your region is the first step in any submission.

OON therapy claims under TRICARE are submitted by the beneficiary — not the provider. The therapist must be a "non-network" provider (never contracted with TRICARE). Active duty service members generally require a referral for mental health services; retirees and dependents typically do not for outpatient mental health. For more context on the general superbill process, see our step-by-step superbill submission guide. For a full overview of TRICARE coverage, visit our TRICARE insurance guide.

TRICARE beneficiaries must also have the military sponsor's Social Security Number (SSN) and the Department of Defense (DoD) Benefits Number (DBN) from their ID card ready when submitting a claim.

Step-by-Step Process for Submitting to TRICARE

1. Get your superbill from your therapist. Request a superbill covering all sessions you want to submit. Include your TRICARE sponsor's information — TRICARE requires the sponsor's SSN and DoD Benefits Number in addition to the member's own information.
2. Identify your TRICARE region and log in to the correct portal. If you are in the West region, go to www.tricare-west.com. If you are in the East region, go to humana-military.com. Log in with your beneficiary credentials and navigate to the claims submission section.
3. Complete the online claim form. Enter the provider information, dates of service, CPT codes, and amounts charged. Upload the superbill PDF as supporting documentation. Ensure the provider's NPI is entered accurately — TRICARE cross-checks against provider records.
4. Alternative: mail your claim. Download the TRICARE claim form (DD Form 2642) from the appropriate regional portal and mail it with your superbill to the claims address for your region. Use certified mail and retain the receipt.
5. Note your confirmation number. After online submission, save the confirmation page. After mailing, retain the certified mail receipt. TRICARE begins processing from the date the claim is received.

What to Include With Your TRICARE Claim

TRICARE requires the superbill to contain all required superbill fields. Specifically for TRICARE, confirm your superbill and claim include:

• Provider full name, NPI (Type 1), and practice address
• Provider Tax ID (EIN or SSN) and professional license number
• Your name, date of birth, and TRICARE member ID / sponsor SSN
• DoD Benefits Number (DBN) from the beneficiary's military ID card
• Date(s) of service
• CPT procedure code (e.g., 90837 for 60-minute therapy) and description
• ICD-10 diagnosis code (e.g., F41.1 for generalized anxiety)
• Fee charged per session and amount you have already paid

TRICARE's Processing Timeline

TRICARE typically processes OON mental health claims within 30 days of receipt for electronic submissions; paper claims may take longer. You will receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) through your regional portal or by mail. TRICARE Standard (now TRICARE Select) pays a percentage of the TRICARE allowable charge — not the provider's full fee.

TRICARE's filing deadline is 365 days from the date of service. Do not wait — submit promptly to avoid deadline issues.

Common Issues When Submitting to TRICARE

• Wrong regional portal: Submitting to the wrong TRICARE region will delay your claim significantly. Verify your region on the back of your beneficiary ID card or at tricare.mil before submitting.
• Provider is in-network (PAR): If your therapist is a TRICARE-contracted (PAR) provider, the claim must be submitted by the provider — not the beneficiary. The superbill OON process only applies to non-network providers.
• Active duty referral requirement: Active duty service members typically need a referral from their primary care manager (PCM) before seeing an OON mental health provider. Missing referral = denied claim.
• Missing military sponsor information: Claims without the sponsor's SSN or DoD Benefits Number will be rejected. Confirm these before submitting.

Tips for a Smooth TRICARE Claim

• Confirm your TRICARE plan type (TRICARE Select, TRICARE Prime, etc.) before submitting. TRICARE Prime members must use network providers — OON claims generally do not apply.
• Use the regional portal to track claim status after submission. Both humana-military.com and tricare-west.com offer claim tracking for logged-in beneficiaries.
• If your claim is denied, you have the right to a formal appeal. Contact the appropriate regional contractor to initiate the appeal process.
• Submit one claim per beneficiary, covering multiple dates of service at once, to reduce the number of claims you need to track.

Superbilled makes it easy to generate TRICARE-ready superbills with all required fields pre-filled. Once your therapist sends you the superbill, use the steps above to submit through the correct TRICARE regional portal.