Yes! I’m a TRICARE-certified doula and a longtime military spouse. I’m honored to support military families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Eligible TRICARE families may receive covered doula services through the Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration (CBSD).

TRICARE currently covers doula support for eligible beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote, or TRICARE Select. To qualify for childbirth support, you must be at least 20 weeks pregnant, plan to give birth outside a military hospital or clinic, and use a TRICARE-authorized provider for your birth.

If you have another health insurance plan in addition to TRICARE, please let me know before we move forward. In most cases, your other health insurance is considered your primary coverage, and TRICARE becomes the secondary payer.

This means claims must first be submitted to your primary insurance and processed before they can be submitted to TRICARE. If your primary insurance does not cover doula services, documentation of that determination may be required when the claim is submitted to TRICARE.

Because coordinating benefits between two insurance plans can be more complex, families with other health insurance may be asked to pay for doula services upfront. If applicable, reimbursement will be issued after the claim has been processed and payment has been received from TRICARE.

Coverage and reimbursement are not guaranteed, so I strongly encourage you to verify your benefits with both your primary insurance and TRICARE before contracting for services.

Your TRICARE doula benefit includes:

• Up to 6 total hours of prenatal and/or postpartum doula visits

• Continuous support during your birth

• Support from a TRICARE-certified participating labor doula

How I typically use those hours with my clients:

Two 2-hour prenatal visits

One 2-hour postpartum visit

Your six visit hours can also be divided differently based on your needs and preferences.

For more information, visit TRICARE’s Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration page.

As early as possible!

Although TRICARE-covered doula services begin once you reach 20 weeks of pregnancy, you don’t need to wait until 20 weeks to reach out. My birth calendar often fills several months in advance, and availability may be limited by the time you reach the eligibility point.

If you know you’d like doula support, I encourage you to contact me early in pregnancy so we can talk about your due date, your TRICARE coverage, and my availability.

1. Reach out and check availability.
Tell me your estimated due date, where you plan to give birth, and which TRICARE plan you have.

2. We’ll confirm that you meet the TRICARE requirements.
I’ll help you understand what information is needed before we move forward.

3. We’ll sign contracts and start planning your support.

4. I handle billing for covered doula services.
You won't be responsible for filing your own TRICARE claims for covered services.

You’re welcome to add services that fall outside of your TRICARE doula benefit. Services such as childbirth education, birth photography, applicable travel fees, and other non-covered services may be available on a self-pay basis.

TRICARE also requires covered doula care to be provided by a TRICARE-authorized doula, so backup support provided by a doula who is not TRICARE-authorized would not be covered.

We’ll discuss any additional services you’re interested in before you contract, so you’ll know exactly what is covered by TRICARE and what, if anything, would be your responsibility.