Section 758 of the FY2001 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorized reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses incurred by non-active duty TRICARE Prime members when they are required to travel more then 100 miles from their Primary Care Manager's (PCM) office for medically necessary specialty care. The required change to the Joint Federal Travel Regulation approving this new entitlement occurred in December 2001. The Prime travel benefit was implemented on February 15, 2002 but also dates back to October 30, 2000 to allow Prime members who traveled and qualified for the benefit to request reimbursement.

Section 706 of the FY2002 NDAA allows one NMA to travel with a non-active duty TRICARE Prime member who is referred more than 100 miles from their PCM for medically necessary specialty care. The traveling patient's PCM must indicate that an NMA is medically necessary and appropriate and the NMA must be a parent, guardian, or another family member (21 or older) related to the traveling TRICARE Prime member. If the NMA is a parent or designated guardian of the traveling Prime patient he/she is not required to be 21 or older. If the NMA is another adult family member, he/she is required to be 21 or older.

Travel Distances

Prime Travel benefits are determined based on the distance of the specialty care provider from the Primary Care Manager's location The link is limited to use by government individuals and will assist in determining whether or not the more than 100 mile requirement is met. Entries are based on the zip code of the Primary Care Manager (not the patient zip code) and the Specialty Provider. This is the only tool to be used in determining the distance requirement. Click on the Defense Table of Official Distances to determine distance.

Costs (Lodging, meals, per diem)

The Prime Travel entitlement allows beneficiaries to be reimbursed for certain travel costs and other associated expenses like lodging and meals. Actual expenses are reimbursed up to the government rate. If beneficiaries have questions regarding government/per diem rates, the following web link provides this information. Beneficiaries will be responsible for all costs exceeding the identified government rate. Click on the FY 2004 Contiguous US Per Diem Rates to determine rates.

For more information regarding these entitlements, we encourage to browse through the other links on this webpage or call the Patient Travel Representative or Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator (BCAC) at the MTF where you are enrolled. If you are enrolled with a civilian network PCM, please contact the Patient Travel Representative or BCAC at the TRICARE Regional Office in the region where you are enrolled.

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