Health Insurance: 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.

For more health insurance information, visit our Health Insurance Materials & Resources.

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 approved. Does not cover for the treatment of cancer.https://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 resulting from burns, surgical procedures, or traumatic events may be covered only if there is evidence of 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 ages 30 and older.https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/HPVDNATesting
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) VaccineIt dependsFor males and females recommended by the CDC.https://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 diagnosis.https://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 TestYesCovered beginning at age 21.https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/PapTest
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 DrugsYesPrescription must be filled through an in-network retail pharmacy, TRICARE home delivery or a military pharmacyhttps://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/SpecialtyDrugs
Stem Cell TransplantsYesFor certain conditions, with or without chemotherapy.https://tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/StemCellTransplants
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 Updated9/2025