A complete guide to accessing mental health therapy through TRICARE and VA Community Care for Army soldiers, veterans, Rangers, and military families at Fort Moore — Columbus GA, Phenix City AL, and the Chattahoochee Valley.
About This Guide
This guide is specifically written for the Fort Moore military community — active-duty Army soldiers, Rangers, Special Operations forces, and their families stationed at Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), along with veterans served by the Columbus VA Outpatient Clinic and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta. It covers how to access TRICARE benefits, get VA Community Care referrals, and find TRICARE-certified therapists in Columbus GA, Phenix City AL, and the Chattahoochee Valley.
Fort Moore is home to the U.S. Army Infantry School, Ranger School, Maneuver Center of Excellence, and the 3rd Infantry Division. With one of the highest concentrations of combat veterans and high-intensity training environments in the Army, mental health support is a critical part of military readiness. This guide cuts through the TRICARE paperwork so you can focus on getting the care you need.
Your plan determines whether you need a referral and what you pay at civilian therapists
Active-duty soldiers, activated reservists, retirees, dependents
Referral Required?
Required from PCM (MACH) after 8 self-referred visits/year
Copay
$0 active-duty · $0–$12 retirees/family
Where to Go
Martin Army Community Hospital (MACH)
HMO-like. PCM at MACH coordinates care. Lowest cost. First 8 sessions/year can be self-referred to any TRICARE-authorized civilian therapist.
Active-duty family members, retirees, dependents
Referral Required?
No referral needed — contact any TRICARE-authorized therapist directly
Copay
$0 active-duty · $25–$35 retirees/family
Where to Go
Any TRICARE-authorized provider in Columbus or Phenix City
PPO-like. Full freedom of provider choice. Best option for Army spouses managing care during field exercises and deployments.
Reserve/Guard soldiers not on active-duty orders
Referral Required?
No referral needed
Copay
$30/session (network)
Where to Go
Civilian TRICARE-authorized providers in Columbus area
Premium-based plan. Must pay monthly premium. Activates full TRICARE coverage for Reserve soldiers when not on orders.
All service members and military family members
Referral Required?
No referral, no record — call 1-800-342-9647
Copay
$0 (completely free, up to 12 sessions/year per issue)
Where to Go
Civilian licensed counselors, completely independent of MACH
Not TRICARE — a separate DoD program. Completely confidential, does not go on your military health record or AHLTA/MHS Genesis. Ideal for soldiers concerned about privacy or clearance.
For Army soldiers, veterans, and military families at Fort Moore and the Chattahoochee Valley
Active-duty Army soldiers at Fort Moore are typically enrolled in TRICARE Prime with Martin Army Community Hospital (MACH) as your Military Treatment Facility. Army family members may be on TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select. Reserve soldiers not on orders use TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) at a monthly premium.
Log into milConnect (milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil) to confirm your current plan and enrollment
TRICARE Prime = MACH-centered, lowest cost, requires referral after 8 self-referred sessions/year
TRICARE Select = no referral needed, slightly higher cost-share, full freedom to choose provider
Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647): up to 12 free, completely off-record sessions — no TRICARE needed
TRICARE Prime soldiers can self-refer for the first 8 outpatient mental health sessions per year with any TRICARE-authorized therapist — no MACH appointment needed first. After 8 sessions, contact your PCM at Martin Army Community Hospital to request continued mental health care authorization.
TRICARE Select users: skip this step — you self-refer directly to any TRICARE-authorized civilian therapist
Call MACH Behavioral Health at 706-544-2516 for PCM referral requests
Referrals are typically valid for 1 year with up to 52 sessions
Army family members on TRICARE Select: no PCM visit required at any point during the year
Search EmoraPath's Columbus directory or use tricare.mil/findadoctor to find TRICARE-authorized therapists in Columbus, Phenix City AL, or the broader Chattahoochee Valley. Always confirm the provider accepts TRICARE before booking.
Ask specifically: "Are you TRICARE-authorized in the TRICARE South region and accepting new TRICARE patients?"
EmoraPath's Columbus directory is pre-filtered for TRICARE-accepting providers
For VA Community Care: use va.gov/find-locations to find VA-network community providers near Columbus
Many Columbus therapists offer telehealth — great for soldiers in the field or during training cycles
Contact the therapist directly and provide your TRICARE plan type, sponsor's DoD ID or last 4 SSN, and referral number if applicable. The provider submits claims to Humana Military (TRICARE South contractor for Columbus) — you should not need to pay upfront for in-network visits.
TRICARE South region (Columbus) contractor: Humana Military — 1-800-444-5445
Bring your military ID (CAC or dependent ID) to your first appointment
Telehealth is covered at the same rate as in-person — ideal for soldiers with field training schedules
Active-duty soldiers: $0 copay at TRICARE-authorized civilian network providers
If you are a Fort Moore veteran in Columbus GA, you may be eligible for VA Community Care to see a community therapist outside the VA system. Start by contacting Columbus VA Outpatient Clinic or the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta.
Columbus VA Outpatient Clinic: 1310 13th Street, Columbus GA 31901 — 706-257-7200
Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center (Augusta): 706-733-0188 — full inpatient/outpatient services
Call VA Community Care Network at 1-866-606-8198 to start the referral process
Veterans living more than 30 miles from Columbus VA Clinic may have automatic Community Care eligibility
For Fort Moore veterans served by Columbus VA Clinic and Charlie Norwood VA (Augusta)
Columbus VA Outpatient Clinic
1310 13th Street, Columbus GA 31901
706-257-7200
Charlie Norwood VA (Augusta)
1 Freedom Way, Augusta GA 30904
706-733-0188
Dublin VA Medical Center
1826 Veterans Blvd, Dublin GA
478-272-1210
VA Community Care Network
Request community care referral
1-866-606-8198
Contact your Columbus VA Outpatient Clinic primary care team
Request a "Community Care referral for outpatient mental health therapy"
Or call VA Community Care directly: 1-866-606-8198
VA authorizes care and issues an approval letter with dates and approved sessions
Choose a VA-network community therapist from EmoraPath's Columbus directory
MST (Military Sexual Trauma): Veterans who experienced MST can receive free MST-related mental health care at Columbus VA Outpatient Clinic or Charlie Norwood VA in Augusta — no copay, no service-connected disability rating required, no referral needed. For active-duty soldiers, Fort Moore\'s SHARP (Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Prevention) program provides confidential support and reporting options.
What to look for when choosing a therapist as an Army soldier or Fort Moore veteran
Infantry & Ranger Combat PTSD
Evidence-based PTSD treatment (CPT, PE, EMDR) tailored to Infantry and Ranger Battalion combat experiences
Blast Injury TBI + PTSD
Neuropsychological and psychiatric support for co-occurring traumatic brain injury and PTSD from blast exposure
Moral Injury
Therapy for perpetration-induced traumatic stress, ethical injury, and meaning-making after combat decisions
High-OpTempo Stress
Chronic stress management for soldiers cycling through frequent deployments, JRTC, NTC, and field rotations
Army MST
Military Sexual Trauma-specific care — free through Columbus VA Clinic with no copay or disability rating required
Army Family Reintegration
Gottman method, EFT for Army couples navigating post-deployment reintegration, role reversals, and homecoming adjustment
Essential contacts for soldiers, veterans, and military families in the Chattahoochee Valley
Martin Army Community Hospital (MACH)
Primary MTF for Fort Moore soldiers
706-544-2516
Columbus VA Outpatient Clinic
1310 13th Street, Columbus GA 31901
706-257-7200
Charlie Norwood VA (Augusta)
Full inpatient/outpatient VA services
706-733-0188
VA Community Care Network
Request a community care referral
1-866-606-8198
Humana Military (TRICARE South)
TRICARE regional contractor — Columbus GA
1-800-444-5445
Military OneSource
Free, confidential, off-record counseling 24/7
1-800-342-9647
Veterans Crisis Line
24/7 crisis support for veterans & soldiers
Dial 988 then press 1
Outpatient mental health at civilian network providers — 2026 rates for TRICARE South (Humana Military)
| Who You Are | TRICARE Prime | TRICARE Select | TRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active-duty Army soldier | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Army family member (AD) | $0 | $25 | N/A |
| Army retiree | $12 | $35 | N/A |
| Retiree family member | $12 | $35 | N/A |
| Reserve soldier (activated) | $0 | $25 | N/A |
| Reserve soldier (not activated) | N/A | N/A | $30 |
Rates are for TRICARE-authorized civilian network providers in TRICARE South region (Humana Military). Martin Army Community Hospital (MACH) visits are always $0. Verify current rates at tricare.mil/costs or call Humana Military: 1-800-444-5445.
The most common questions from Army soldiers and veterans in the Columbus area
Read the same in-depth guide tailored for other military installations
Browse EmoraPath's Columbus directory of TRICARE-authorized and VA Community Care therapists in Columbus GA, Phenix City AL, and the Chattahoochee Valley. Most are accepting new clients within 1–2 weeks.
Questions? Call Military OneSource: 1-800-342-9647 · VA Community Care: 1-866-606-8198 · Crisis: 988 (press 1 for Veterans)
This guide is for informational purposes only. TRICARE benefits, copays, and eligibility rules may change. Verify current details at tricare.mil, by calling Humana Military (1-800-444-5445), or the VA Community Care line (1-866-606-8198). If you are in crisis, call or text 988 and press 1 for Veterans.
We use cookies to improve your experience.
We use essential cookies to keep the site running and optional analytics cookies to understand how you use EmoraPath. Your mental health data is never shared or sold. Learn More
Emora · Daily check-in
Hey — you showed up today. 💚 How are you feeling right now?