Does TRICARE East Cover TMS Therapy for Depression?

Depression can be a persistent condition and, for some people, challenging to manage through traditional treatments. If medication and therapy haven’t worked well for you, your provider may recommend transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy — a noninvasive approach to treatment-resistant depression. But as a TRICARE East member, you may be wondering if your insurance covers TMS therapy.

The simple answer is yes. Diving deeper into the question may help alleviate some of the uncertainty around accessing the mental health care for you or your military service member. At Psychiatry Treatment Centers, we intentionally integrate insurance-based care so that we can assist a wider range of patients.

TRICARE East: Find a TMS provider

As of 2025, TRICARE covers TMS therapy for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) on an outpatient basis. According to their overview of costs and fees, many TRICARE health plans cover mental health specialty services at a reduced or zero cost depending on the plan. This breakdown includes in-network and out-of-network pricing, so you can estimate your out-of-pocket responsibilities:

In network — An in-network provider, like Psychiatry Treatment Centers, is contracted with TRICARE to offer services at a negotiated rate, which means you’ll have less to pay out of pocket.

Out of network — Not every mental health provider is contracted with TRICARE East, which means you can still see them but service costs aren’t pre-negotiated.

To learn more about your TRICARE East insurance plan and what’s covered, visit their website and search for “transcranial magnetic stimulation” under the Covered Services section. This page provides general information about the wide range of treatments this insurer covers, so you can search for other treatments you may need as well.

You can also call your regional contractor to ask about coverage and what documentation might be required for this service. Also, don’t forget to consult your mental health provider. They can tell you if they’re in network with your insurer and how they can help you work through this part of the process.

Please note: This information doesn’t guarantee coverage. Each patient should consult their plan for detailed information about how it covers mental health care.

What is TMS therapy and how does it work?

TMS therapy is an innovative, noninvasive treatment option for people with mental health disorders that haven’t improved through traditional methods. It’s FDA approved for major depressive disorder (MDD) as well as MDD with anxious features (anxious depression). TMS is also FDA approved for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

TMS is performed in a comfortable outpatient setting, with no downtime, allowing you to drive yourself to and from your home to treatment. A typical treatment involves 20-minute daily sessions for six weeks. Then, it usually tapers off for two to three weeks, depending on your schedule. TMS therapy is a safe, medication-free treatment for depression. However, it can be combined with other treatments, like your oral antidepressant and psychotherapy, if necessary.

Before treatment starts, your provider will coordinate with TRICARE to obtain the necessary prior authorization and review any out-of-pocket costs with you.

How to access TMS therapy with TRICARE East

Taking advantage of your TRICARE insurance plan can help make mental health care more affordable and accessible. To ensure that you can get the high-quality treatment you need instead of delaying or forgoing care due to cost, make sure you learn what your plan covers. The more you know about your plan, the more confidently you and your provider can navigate the mental health care landscape.

For example, along with in-person treatments, many TRICARE plans cover telehealth visits. This means you can talk to your mental health provider about TMS therapy and other treatments, get help with your medications, and attend therapy appointments all from the comfort of your home. Virtual visits provide enhanced flexibility during those times when your schedule is full or you’re traveling, helping to ensure that you can receive ongoing professional support.

TRICARE East members can partner with Psychiatry Treatment Centers

At Psychiatry Treatment Centers, we’re proud to help military service members and their families access quality mental health care, like TMS therapy and Spravato® (esketamine). We partner with most major insurance plans, including TRICARE East, and want you to feel fully prepared for your treatment. We will tell you everything you need to know about accessing TMS therapy through your TRICARE East insurance, including at our Hinesville, Georgia, location.

All of our mental health services are personalized to meet your needs, and our billing team reviews your coverage, copays and any potential out-of-pocket costs with you before you start.

Reach out to our team by phone for more information about TRICARE East insurance coverage for TMS therapy or book an appointment online at one of our locations.