If you need emergency care to safeguard life, limb or eyesight,
you can go immediately to the nearest health care facility or call
911. You or a responsible family member must notify your Primary Care
Manager of this emergency care within 24 hours.
While traveling, you
should always carry with you the 24 hour contact number for your
PCM. Active duty members can also receive assistance by calling the
Military Medical Support Office at 1-800-646-6676. If you need
medical advice or information, you can call the TRICARE Line for Care at
1-888-887-4111. Please remember that nurses at this telephone number
CANNOT authorize visits for civilian care; only your PCM can authorize such
visits.
Grand Forks AFB is located in the TRICARE Central Region, and has
a fully staffed TRICARE Service Center to assist you with obtaining appointments
at the base clinic or health care in the local community. While you
are enroute to Grand Forks AFB during your PCS, (or any time you are away from
home) it is important to know what to do in the event that you need medical
care. For those active duty members and their family members who are
enrolled in TRICARE Prime, if you need nonemergency care away from home, your
care will be covered IF you get approval from your Primary Care Manager
(PCM). Your PCM from your previous duty station retains
responsibility for your medical care until the day you enroll with a new PCM at
your new duty station. Until that time, it is important that you give
your civilian medical provider your home address from your previous
assignment. This will help to ensure that the bills are sent to the
appropriate claims processor. Your military identification card
and/or TRICARE enrollment card will identify you as having military health
benefits.
The American Red Cross is also available for emergency aid and
can help with financial crises and have the capability of notifying family
members who need to know your whereabouts. The phone number of the nearest Red
Cross chapter can be found in the phone book white pages.