A complete guide to accessing mental health therapy through TRICARE and VA Community Care for Navy sailors, veterans, and military families in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and the Hampton Roads region.
About This Guide
This guide is specifically written for the Hampton Roads military community — active-duty Navy sailors at Naval Station Norfolk, NAS Oceana, NS Little Creek, and Naval Station Little Creek, along with their families and Navy veterans served by Hampton VA Medical Center. It covers how to access TRICARE benefits, get VA Community Care referrals, and find TRICARE-certified therapists in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth.
Hampton Roads is home to the world's largest naval base and one of the highest concentrations of TRICARE-covered individuals in the United States. Despite this, navigating the mental health benefit system — PCM referrals, NMCP, Humana Military billing — can feel unnecessarily complicated. This guide gives you everything you need in one place.
Your plan determines whether you need a referral and what you pay at civilian therapists
Active-duty sailors, activated reservists, retirees, dependents
Referral Required?
Required from PCM (NMCP) after 8 self-referred visits/year
Copay
$0 active-duty · $0–$12 retirees/family
Where to Go
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP)
HMO-like. PCM at NMCP coordinates care. Lowest cost. First 8 sessions/year self-referral allowed.
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 Hampton Roads
PPO-like. Full freedom of choice. Best option for Navy spouses managing care independently during deployments.
Reserve/Guard sailors not on active-duty orders
Referral Required?
No referral needed
Copay
$30/session (network)
Where to Go
Civilian TRICARE-authorized providers
Premium-based plan. Must pay monthly premium. Activates full TRICARE coverage 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, independent of NMCP
Not TRICARE — a separate DoD program. Completely confidential, does not go on your military health record. Ideal for sailors concerned about privacy.
For Navy sailors, veterans, and military families at Naval Station Norfolk
Active-duty sailors at Naval Station Norfolk are typically enrolled in TRICARE Prime, with Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) as your Military Treatment Facility (MTF). Navy family members may be on TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select. Reserve sailors not on orders use TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) at a monthly premium.
Log into milConnect (milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil) to confirm your current plan
TRICARE Prime = PCM-centered, lower cost, requires referral after 8 sessions
TRICARE Select = no referral needed, slightly higher cost-share
Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647) offers 12 free off-record sessions — no TRICARE needed
TRICARE Prime members can self-refer for the first 8 outpatient mental health sessions per year with any TRICARE-authorized therapist — no PCM visit needed. After 8 sessions, contact your PCM at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth to request continued mental health care authorization.
TRICARE Select users: skip this step — you self-refer directly to any authorized therapist
Call NMCP Mental Health at 757-953-2000 for PCM referral requests
Deployed sailors' family members: TRICARE Select or Military OneSource is often easier during deployments
Referrals are typically valid for 1 year with up to 52 sessions
Search EmoraPath's Norfolk directory or use tricare.mil/findadoctor to find TRICARE-authorized therapists in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth. Always confirm the provider accepts TRICARE before booking — not all licensed Virginia therapists are TRICARE-certified.
Ask specifically: "Are you TRICARE-authorized and accepting new TRICARE patients?"
EmoraPath's Norfolk directory is pre-filtered for TRICARE-accepting providers
For VA Community Care: use the VA's community care provider locator at va.gov/find-locations
Many Hampton Roads therapists offer telehealth — great for sailors with irregular schedules
Contact the therapist directly and provide your TRICARE plan type, your sponsor's last 4 SSN or DoD ID, and your referral number if applicable. The provider submits claims to Humana Military (the TRICARE East regional contractor for Hampton Roads) — you should not need to pay upfront for in-network visits.
TRICARE East region (Hampton Roads) 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 sailors with sea duty schedules
Active-duty sailors: $0 copay at TRICARE-authorized network providers
If you are a Navy veteran in Hampton Roads, you may be eligible for VA Community Care to see a community therapist outside the VA system. Start by contacting Hampton VA Medical Center or one of the Hampton Roads VA outpatient clinics (Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, or Newport News).
Hampton VA Medical Center: 100 Emancipation Drive, Hampton, VA — 757-722-9961
Virginia Beach VA Clinic: 100 Mercy Court, Virginia Beach — 757-722-9961 ext.
Chesapeake VA Clinic: 1800 Executive Dr, Chesapeake — 757-953-3000
Call VA Community Care Network at 1-866-606-8198 to start the referral process
For Navy veterans served by Hampton VA Medical Center
Hampton VA Medical Center
100 Emancipation Drive, Hampton VA
757-722-9961
Virginia Beach VA Clinic
100 Mercy Court, Virginia Beach
757-722-9961
Chesapeake VA Clinic
1800 Executive Dr, Chesapeake
757-953-3000
Newport News VA Clinic
Peninsula area
757-722-9961
Contact your Hampton VA Medical Center 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 Norfolk directory
MST (Military Sexual Trauma): Navy veterans who experienced MST can receive free MST-related mental health care at Hampton VA Medical Center — no copay, no service-connected disability rating required, no referral needed. The Hampton VA has dedicated MST coordinators. Contact the Hampton VA Women Veterans Program at 757-722-9961.
What to look for when choosing a therapist as a Navy sailor or veteran
Deployment Separation & Reintegration
For sailors and families adjusting to long deployments and homecoming transitions
Operational PTSD
Combat and non-combat Navy operational trauma — EMDR, CPT, prolonged exposure
Submarine Crew Stress
Isolation, confined environment stress, OPSEC, re-entry adjustment
Navy MST
Military Sexual Trauma-specific evidence-based care — free through Hampton VA
PCS Move Adjustment
Frequent relocation stress, school transitions, community loss for military families
Navy Family & Couples
Gottman method, EFT for Navy couples dealing with long separations
Important contacts for sailors, veterans, and military families in the Norfolk area
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Primary MTF for Naval Station Norfolk
757-953-2000
Hampton VA Medical Center
100 Emancipation Drive, Hampton VA
757-722-9961
VA Community Care Network
Request a community care referral
1-866-606-8198
Humana Military (TRICARE East)
TRICARE regional contractor — Hampton Roads
1-800-444-5445
Military OneSource
Free, confidential, off-record counseling
1-800-342-9647
Veterans Crisis Line
24/7 crisis support for veterans
Dial 988 then press 1
Outpatient mental health at civilian network providers — 2026 rates for TRICARE East (Humana Military)
| Who You Are | TRICARE Prime | TRICARE Select | TRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active-duty Navy sailor | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Navy family member (AD) | $0 | $25 | N/A |
| Navy retiree | $12 | $35 | N/A |
| Retiree family member | $12 | $35 | N/A |
| Reserve sailor (activated) | $0 | $25 | N/A |
| Reserve sailor (not activated) | N/A | N/A | $30 |
Rates are for TRICARE-authorized civilian network providers in TRICARE East region (Humana Military). MTF (Naval Medical Center Portsmouth) visits are always $0. Verify current rates at tricare.mil/costs or call Humana Military: 1-800-444-5445.
The most common questions from Navy sailors and veterans in the Norfolk area
Browse EmoraPath's Norfolk directory of TRICARE-authorized and VA Community Care therapists in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth. 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?