Military Coverage of Cancer-Related Care

This chart highlights the rules related to military coverage of cancer-related care, including, clinical trials, bone marrow transplants, breast exams, and more. Check back often, as this chart is updated frequently.

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Test, Item or ServiceCovered?Limits
Bone Marrow TransplantsYesAutologous and allogenic bone marrow transplants are covered. There are limitshttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/BoneMarrowTransplants
Bras for MastectomyYesCovered instead of reconstructive breast surgery. There are limits.https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/BrasForMastectomy
Breast ExamsYesWhen and how often depends on your age and breast cancer riskhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/BreastExams
Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)YesWhen and how often depends on your age and cancer riskhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/BreastMRI
Cancer Clinical TrialsYesOnly through partnership with the National Cancer Institutehttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/CancerClinicalTrials
Cancer of Female Reproductive Organs (Screening)YesCovers physical examinations, pap smears, and HPV DNA testinghttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/CancerFemaleReproductiveOrgans
Cancer ScreeningsYesSome limits based on risk factors.https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/CancerScreenings
Chelation TherapyYesMust be FDA approvedhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/ChelationTherapy
ChemotherapyYesMust be FDA approvedhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/Chemotherapy
ColonoscopyYesDepends on your age and family historyhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/Colonoscopy
Colorectal Cancer ExamsYesDepends on your age and cancer riskhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/ColorectalCancerExams
DermatologyYesHypertropic scars and keloids from burns, surgery or trauma covered only if impaired function.https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/Dermatology
Diagnostic Imaging for Acute Lower Back PainIt dependsCertain warning signs must be present.https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/DiagnosticImagingLBP
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) TestingYesOnly for women of a certain age to screen for cervical cancerhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/HPVDNATesting
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) VaccineIt dependshttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/HPVVaccine
HysterectomyYesNot covered when performed solely for sterilization, to preserve sexual function or to preserve postoperative complicationshttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/Hysterectomy
Lung Cancer ScreeningYesMust meet specific criteria.https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/Lung-Cancer-Screening
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)YesWhen medically necessary to be medically necessary means it is appropriate, reasonable, and adequate for your condition. and appropriate for the diagnosishttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/MagResImaging
MammogramsYesDepends on your age and cancer riskhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/Mammograms
MastectomyYesSubcutaneous mastectomy to prevent or treat breast cancer isn't coveredhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/Mastectomy
Oral Cavity and Pharyngeal Cancer ExamsYesFor adults at high risk due to exposure to tobacco or excessive amounts of alcoholhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/OralCavityPharyngealCancerExams
Oral SurgeryYesNot all oral surgeries are coveredhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/OralSurgery
Ovary Removal (Prophylactic Oophorectomy)YesMust have positive BRCA test and certain family historyhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/OvaryRemoval
Pap SmearsYesCovered beginning at age 21.https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/PapSmears
Parent and Patient Educational CounselingYeshttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/ParentPatientEducationalCounseling
Pelvic ExamYeshttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/PelvicExam
PhysicalsIt dependsAnnual sports physicals aren't coveredhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/Physicals
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) ScanIt dependsDepends on conditionhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/PosEmissTomoScan
Post-Mastectomy Reconstructive Breast SurgeryYeshttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/PostMastectomyReconstructiveBreastSurgery
Prostate Cancer ExamsYesDepends on your age and cancer riskhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/ProstateCancerExams
Radiation TherapyYesMust be safe, effective and comparable or superior to the standard of carehttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/RadiationTherapy
Rare Diseases, Treatment ofIt dependsMay be covered on a case-by-case basishttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/RareDiseases
Skin Cancer ExamsYesDepends on cancer riskhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/SkinCancerExams
Specialty DrugsPrescription must be filled through an in-network retail pharmacy, TRICARE home delivery or a military pharmacyhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/SpecialtyDrugs
Testicular Cancer ExamsYesCovered annually between age 13 and 39 with history of certain conditionshttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/TesticularCancerExams
Thyroid Cancer ExamsYesCovered for adults with a history of upper body irradiation (exposure to radiation)https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/ThyroidCancerExams
VitaminsIt dependsMegavitamins and multivitamins aren't coveredhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/Vitamins
Well Woman ExamYesSome screenings are age or risk related.https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/WellWomanExam
WigsYesOne wig per beneficiary per lifetime. Your physician must certify that hair loss was from malignant diseasehttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/Wigs
X-RaysYesMust be prescribed and related to specific condition or defined set of symptomshttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/XRays
Date Updated1/2024

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