How to file a TRICARE claim (overseas or out-of-network)
Short answer: Most of the time your provider files your claim for you. You only file it yourself in two situations — you received care overseas, or you saw a non-network provider in the U.S. and paid out of pocket. In both cases you use DD Form 2642 (Patient's Request for Medical Payment) plus an itemized bill, and you must file within one year for care in the U.S. or three years for care overseas.
Do you need to file the claim yourself?
If you saw a TRICARE network provider, they usually file the claim and you simply receive an explanation of benefits. You file your own claim when:
- You received care overseas, or
- You saw a non-network provider in the U.S. and paid up front.
Path A — Care received overseas
Overseas claims go to the TRICARE Overseas Program (TOP) claims processor, International SOS. You can file three ways:
- Online — the TRICARE Overseas Secure Claims Portal at tricare-overseas.com (fastest).
- Mobile app — submit your full claim through the MHS MyCare Overseas app, including the DD Form 2642, the itemized bill, and proof of payment.
- By mail — for the Eurasia-Africa region (which includes Italy and the rest of Europe): TRICARE Overseas Program, P.O. Box 8976, Madison, WI 53708-8976, USA. (Active-duty overseas claims go to P.O. Box 7968, Madison, WI 53707-7968.)
File with the processor for the region where you live — even if you received the care while traveling somewhere else. Include the itemized bill (in Italy, the fattura), the diagnosis, proof of payment, and your other-insurance explanation of benefits if you have one. The updated DD Form 2642 includes a currency field, so you can be reimbursed in U.S. dollars or local currency.
Overseas, TRICARE is usually the primary payer, because Medicare doesn't cover care received abroad. If you do have other coverage — travel insurance, some Medicare Advantage plans, or the VA Foreign Medical Program — that pays first, and you include its explanation of benefits with your claim.
Path B — Non-network provider in the U.S.
You typically pay up front, then submit DD Form 2642 with the itemized bill to your regional contractor within one year. Your region is set by where you live — for example, Florida is in the East Region.
| Region | File online | File by mail |
|---|---|---|
| East | Humana Military | TRICARE East Region Claims, P.O. Box 202146, Florence, SC 29502-2146 |
| West | TriWest Healthcare Alliance | TRICARE West Region Claims, P.O. Box 202160, Florence, SC 29502-2160 |
TRICARE For Life: if Medicare is your primary coverage in the U.S., Medicare usually forwards the claim to TRICARE automatically, so you rarely file by hand. If you do need to mail one: WPS TRICARE For Life, P.O. Box 7890, Madison, WI 53707-7890.
Addresses change from time to time — the West Region contractor changed in 2025. Always confirm the current address on TRICARE's official claims-address page before you mail anything.
Completing DD Form 2642
Complete every block and sign the form, then attach an itemized bill on the provider's letterhead. The bill needs the sponsor's Social Security number, the provider's name and address, the date and place of each service, a description and charge for each service, and the diagnosis (if the diagnosis isn't on the bill, complete Box 8a). Attach your other-insurance explanation of benefits or Medicare summary notice if applicable, and DD Form 2527 if the care was accident- or work-related. Write the patient's name, sponsor's name, and sponsor's Social Security number on every attachment.
The most common reason claims are rejected is billing information. Again and again, claims come back marked as missing information when the details were actually available — they simply weren't entered the way the claims processor needed. Making sure every required billing detail is complete and in the right place is the single most effective thing you can do to be paid on the first try.
Full walkthrough: how to complete DD Form 2642 →
Filing deadlines
- U.S. and U.S. territories: one year from the date of service.
- Overseas: three years from the date of service.
How long reimbursement takes
Most claims are processed within 30 days of receipt — in practice, usually two to five weeks. Filing through the secure portal rather than by mail, and signing up for direct deposit (EFT), are the two fastest ways to get paid.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to translate my receipts and billing information from a foreign language to English?
Generally no. The overseas claims processor provides language support, and the form's currency field handles the exchange. What matters is that the itemized bill is clear and legible.
How long does reimbursement take?
Usually two to five weeks. Clean claims are processed within 30 days; the portal plus direct deposit is the fastest route.
Can I file for pharmacy costs only?
Yes. Submit DD Form 2642 with the pharmacy invoice listing the prescribed drugs and proof of payment.
What if my provider isn't in the TRICARE network?
That's exactly when you file your own claim — Path B above for care in the U.S., and the standard process for overseas care, where you generally pay up front and file for reimbursement.
File your claim
File My Claim walks you through DD Form 2642 for free and checks that your billing information is complete, so your claim isn't rejected as “missing information” — for any claim, whether your care was received overseas or from a U.S. out-of-network provider.