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News | April 21, 2021

TRICARE-Authorized Urgent Care Center (UCC) Access!


TRICARE-authorized Urgent Care Center (UCC) access
Patients who use TRICARE Prime, or any other TRICARE plan, may visit any TRICARE-authorized network UCC for urgent care. Active duty personnel are not authorized urgent care clinic visits without a referral. Patients may find more convenience, shorter wait times and improved accessibility when visiting a UCC in the local community for non-emergency illness or injury requiring treatment within 24 hours.

What is Urgent Care?
Urgent care is medical attention needed for a non-emergency illness or injury requiring treatment within 24 hours. Examples of urgent care conditions include a sprain, rising temperature or sore throat. In general, it isn't an emergency and doesn't threaten life, limb or eyesight. Madigan's enrolled active duty family members, retirees and retiree family members are authorized to visit a TRICARE-authorized network UCC for care without an appointment or a PCM referral.

How is Urgent Care different from a "Medical Emergency"?
A medical emergency on the other hand, is an injury or illness that threatens life, limb or eyesight. Examples include severe bleeding, spinal cord or back injury, chest pain, broken bones or difficulty breathing. Other types of emergencies include maternity/obstetric emergencies and psychiatric crises. If you reasonably think you have an emergency, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

A copay of $31 is required for all retirees and retiree family members seen at a TRICARE-authorized network UCC. Active duty family members will not have a copay. If patients have questions related to a UCC visit, they can contact the Madigan Referral Management Center (Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at (253) 968-1145., and choose option #5 for assistance. For a full list of co-pay costs information, visit TRICARE West Cost Information for Urgent Care

Who is eligible?
Madigan's enrolled Active Duty Family Members, Retirees, and Retiree Family Members are authorized to visit a TRICARE-authorized network urgent care center for acute care, no PCM referral required!

*Active Duty Personnel are NOT authorized urgent care clinic visits without a referral.
If follow-up care is required, please call the Appointment Line at (800) 404-4506 (M-F: 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Sat-Sun: 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) to schedule with your Primary Care Clinic.
A co-pay of $30 will be required for all retirees and retiree family members seen at a network urgent care clinic. Active Duty family members will not have a copay.**

**For a full list of co-pay costs information, visit TRICARE West Cost Information for Urgent Care
For questions related to your urgent care visit, contact the Madigan Referral Management Center at (253) 968-1145, and choose option #5

How to find a TRICARE-Authorized Urgent Care Center near you
Visit TRICARE West and follow the steps below:
  • Step 1. Upper left Portal, click "BENEFICIARY".
  • Step 2. Top Menu Bar, click on "COVERED SERVICES - URGENT CARE".
  • Step 3. Top of the page under step 3, click the on the link for "NETWORK PROVIDER DIRECTORY".
  • Step 4. Specify "URGENT CARE CENTER" under "SEARCH FOR" and add address.
  • Step 5. Add additional parameters if desired, or else just submit at the bottom and a list will be generated of authorized UCC locations close to your residence.


COVID-19 UPDATE REGARDING UCC CO-PAYS: Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, TRICARE is waiving copays for office visits in which the provider tested for COVID-19. Copays will be waived retroactively to March 18 for approved COVID-19 diagnostic testing and office visits related to the testing. If you paid any copays for testing related to COVID-19 and the resulting office visits with a network or non- network provider, you may file a TRICARE Claim Form (DD2642) to receive reimbursement. This only applies to Active Duty Family Members, Retiree’s and Retiree Family Members that do not require a pre-authorization for a UCC visit in the network. This does not apply to Active Duty Service Members who should not be using a UCC without a pre-authorization.
News | April 21, 2021

TRICARE-Authorized Urgent Care Center (UCC) Access!


TRICARE-authorized Urgent Care Center (UCC) access
Patients who use TRICARE Prime, or any other TRICARE plan, may visit any TRICARE-authorized network UCC for urgent care. Active duty personnel are not authorized urgent care clinic visits without a referral. Patients may find more convenience, shorter wait times and improved accessibility when visiting a UCC in the local community for non-emergency illness or injury requiring treatment within 24 hours.

What is Urgent Care?
Urgent care is medical attention needed for a non-emergency illness or injury requiring treatment within 24 hours. Examples of urgent care conditions include a sprain, rising temperature or sore throat. In general, it isn't an emergency and doesn't threaten life, limb or eyesight. Madigan's enrolled active duty family members, retirees and retiree family members are authorized to visit a TRICARE-authorized network UCC for care without an appointment or a PCM referral.

How is Urgent Care different from a "Medical Emergency"?
A medical emergency on the other hand, is an injury or illness that threatens life, limb or eyesight. Examples include severe bleeding, spinal cord or back injury, chest pain, broken bones or difficulty breathing. Other types of emergencies include maternity/obstetric emergencies and psychiatric crises. If you reasonably think you have an emergency, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

A copay of $31 is required for all retirees and retiree family members seen at a TRICARE-authorized network UCC. Active duty family members will not have a copay. If patients have questions related to a UCC visit, they can contact the Madigan Referral Management Center (Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at (253) 968-1145., and choose option #5 for assistance. For a full list of co-pay costs information, visit TRICARE West Cost Information for Urgent Care

Who is eligible?
Madigan's enrolled Active Duty Family Members, Retirees, and Retiree Family Members are authorized to visit a TRICARE-authorized network urgent care center for acute care, no PCM referral required!

*Active Duty Personnel are NOT authorized urgent care clinic visits without a referral.
If follow-up care is required, please call the Appointment Line at (800) 404-4506 (M-F: 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Sat-Sun: 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) to schedule with your Primary Care Clinic.
A co-pay of $30 will be required for all retirees and retiree family members seen at a network urgent care clinic. Active Duty family members will not have a copay.**

**For a full list of co-pay costs information, visit TRICARE West Cost Information for Urgent Care
For questions related to your urgent care visit, contact the Madigan Referral Management Center at (253) 968-1145, and choose option #5

How to find a TRICARE-Authorized Urgent Care Center near you
Visit TRICARE West and follow the steps below:
  • Step 1. Upper left Portal, click "BENEFICIARY".
  • Step 2. Top Menu Bar, click on "COVERED SERVICES - URGENT CARE".
  • Step 3. Top of the page under step 3, click the on the link for "NETWORK PROVIDER DIRECTORY".
  • Step 4. Specify "URGENT CARE CENTER" under "SEARCH FOR" and add address.
  • Step 5. Add additional parameters if desired, or else just submit at the bottom and a list will be generated of authorized UCC locations close to your residence.


COVID-19 UPDATE REGARDING UCC CO-PAYS: Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, TRICARE is waiving copays for office visits in which the provider tested for COVID-19. Copays will be waived retroactively to March 18 for approved COVID-19 diagnostic testing and office visits related to the testing. If you paid any copays for testing related to COVID-19 and the resulting office visits with a network or non- network provider, you may file a TRICARE Claim Form (DD2642) to receive reimbursement. This only applies to Active Duty Family Members, Retiree’s and Retiree Family Members that do not require a pre-authorization for a UCC visit in the network. This does not apply to Active Duty Service Members who should not be using a UCC without a pre-authorization.
Don’t forget to keep your family’s information up to date in DEERS!