The short answer
Contact the TRICARE regional contractor for your state: Humana Military in the East Region or TriWest Healthcare Alliance in the West Region. You can become a network provider or a non-network TRICARE-authorized provider. Counselors face TRICARE-specific certification rules, so confirm your license qualifies before you apply.
How do therapists become TRICARE providers?
Through the regional contractor for the state you practice in. TRICARE's provider FAQ says to contact your region's contractor:
| Region | Contractor | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| East | Humana Military | 800-444-5445 |
| West | TriWest Healthcare Alliance | 888-874-9378 |
These are the contractors under TRICARE's current regional contracts, which began in 2025. See who the regional contractors are.
What's the difference between network and non-network?
- Network providers sign a contract with the regional contractor, agree to its rates, and file claims for patients. Network status matters most for TRICARE Prime beneficiaries.
- Non-network TRICARE-authorized providers meet TRICARE's requirements without a network contract. Some accept TRICARE's allowable charge on a claim-by-claim basis; others don't.
Which therapists can TRICARE pay?
TRICARE's list of mental health provider types includes clinical psychologists, certified clinical social workers, certified marriage and family therapists, and TRICARE Certified Mental Health Counselors, along with psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse specialists. TRICARE says certified mental health counselors don't need a physician referral or oversight.
TRICARE's counselor requirements are its own and can be stricter than a state license, including education and exam standards. The detailed rules are in 32 CFR 199.6. Confirm with your regional contractor that your license and training qualify before you invest time in applying.
Is it worth it?
For therapists near military installations, often yes. Active-duty families and retirees are a large population, and many look for community therapists. Elsewhere, it depends on local demand.
How ValorWell handles this
ValorWell doesn't offer a TRICARE pathway. Its clients are Veterans, Veteran spouses, and children of Veterans, covered through CHAMPVA, VA Community Care, or the ValorWell Foundation. If you want to serve TRICARE families, you'd do that through your own TRICARE enrollment.
ValorWell is nonexclusive, so you can be a TRICARE provider in your own practice and work with ValorWell at the same time.
Important limits
- Contractors and regions change with each round of TRICARE contracts. Check TRICARE's site before applying.
- Counselor rules are specific. A state LPC license alone may not meet TRICARE's certification requirements.
- This page is educational. The regional contractor and TRICARE's policy manuals control the details.