Tricare Insurance

Arizona is in the Tricare West Region. Since January 1, 2025, the West Region contractor has been TriWest Healthcare Alliance, which replaced Health Net Federal Services. If you see older information that names Health Net, it's out of date. Brainwave submits TMS authorization requests to TriWest for you.

Under TriWest's current TMS policy, you generally need to: • Be 18 or older. • Have a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. • Have tried at least two antidepressants from different classes, each for six weeks or more, without enough improvement. • Have an initial consultation with our provider. Tricare Prime members also need a referral from their Primary Care Manager (PCM). • Receive preauthorization before treatment starts. Our provider reviews your history at your initial consultation, and we'll tell you up front whether you're likely to qualify.

It depends on your plan. Tricare Prime members need a referral from their Primary Care Manager (PCM). Your PCM submits the referral to Tricare, and it includes authorization for your initial consultation with our provider. Tricare Select members don't need a referral. You can book your initial consultation with us directly, and we may request records from your other providers to support your TMS authorization.

Every patient has an initial consultation with our provider first. After that visit, we submit the TMS authorization request to TriWest. Timelines vary, but most patients hear back within a couple of weeks. Missing records are the most common cause of delay, so it helps to have your medication history ready. Brainwave's standard TMS course is five sessions a week for six weeks. TriWest's policy allows up to 36 TMS sessions within a 90-day window, so a standard course fits inside that limit. Your approval will confirm exactly how many sessions are authorized.

It depends on your plan and beneficiary status: • Active-duty service members: pay nothing out of pocket for covered care. • Retirees and family members: may owe copays or cost-shares under Prime or Select, depending on the plan, plus any deductible. We verify your benefits before your first session, so you'll know your costs before you start. Nothing is a surprise.

No. TriWest's policy considers MeRT (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy) an emerging technology, so it isn't a covered Tricare benefit. What Tricare covers at Brainwave is standard TMS for depression. If MeRT is a better fit for your goals, you can choose it as a self-pay option. Veterans, service members and first responders receive 20% off.

Not on its own. Tricare covers TMS when major depression is the primary diagnosis. Many veterans with depression also live with PTSD, anxiety or a past brain injury, and those symptoms often come up during care for depression. If depression isn't your primary diagnosis, we'll talk through self-pay options, including MeRT, which was FDA-cleared for PTSD in 2026.

Yes, if they're enrolled in Tricare and meet the same criteria: 18 or older, a major depression diagnosis, and prior medication trials. That includes spouses, retirees' family members and adult children on Tricare Young Adult. Brainwave doesn't bill Medicare. If you're on Tricare For Life, where Medicare pays first, call us before scheduling to talk through your coverage and self-pay options.

Yes. Many active-duty members, including airmen at Davis-Monthan AFB, complete TMS while they're still serving. Sessions take about 30 minutes and run on weekdays, so most patients schedule around duty hours. As a Tricare Prime member, you'll start with a referral from your PCM, then an initial consultation with our provider before we request TMS authorization. Ask your coordinator about early-morning appointments.

Your health information is protected by HIPAA, and we don't share it with your command. DoD rules require providers to notify command only in limited situations, such as a serious safety risk or a condition that affects your ability to do your duties. If you have concerns, we'll talk them through openly at your consultation, before you start.

Yes. Brainwave Neuro Performance Center is veteran-owned. We support local veterans' organizations, including Operation Resource Arizona and Paths for Heroes. We understand military life, from deployments to PCS moves to the stigma that keeps people from asking for help.

It can be. A course of TMS means short weekday sessions over about six weeks, so the drive matters. Families from Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca often plan around early or late appointments, or pair sessions with other trips to Tucson. Call us, and we'll build a schedule that works for you.

MeRT is generally not covered by insurance. Tricare doesn't cover it: TriWest's policy considers MeRT an emerging technology. Brainwave offers MeRT as a self-pay treatment. Veterans, service members, teachers and first responders receive 20% off, and financing is available through CareCredit. If you have depression and use Tricare, ask us whether standard TMS, which Tricare does cover, is a fit for you.

For TMS covered by Tricare, yes. Tricare requires preauthorization before your first TMS session. Every patient first has an initial consultation with our provider. Prime members need a PCM referral for that visit, which their PCM submits to Tricare. Select members can book it directly. After your consultation, we submit the TMS authorization request to TriWest for you. Treatment begins once you're approved. For self-pay MeRT, no insurance approval is needed. You can begin after your consultation and brain map.

It depends on your coverage: • Active-duty service members: pay nothing out of pocket for covered TMS. • Retirees and family members: may owe copays, cost-shares or a deductible, depending on their Tricare plan. • Services Tricare doesn't cover: such as MeRT, are self-pay. We'll go over your expected costs with you before treatment starts.

No. Tricare covers standard TMS for adults with major depression when it's preauthorized. MeRT uses similar technology but is personalized to your brain map. Tricare classifies it as an emerging technology, so it isn't covered. At Brainwave, MeRT is a self-pay option with a 20% discount for veterans, service members and first responders.

Tricare approves a set number of TMS sessions within a set time frame. TriWest's policy allows up to 36 sessions within a 90-day window. Brainwave's standard course is five sessions a week for six weeks, which fits inside that limit. Your approval will list exactly how many sessions are authorized. If your care team recommends more treatment later, we'll talk through your options with you.

Yes. We verify your Tricare benefits before your first session and walk you through what you can expect to pay. For self-pay MeRT, we give you the full treatment cost, including any discount, before you commit. Final Tricare costs depend on how your claims are processed, but you won't start without knowing what to expect.

Yes. Brainwave works with CareCredit, a healthcare credit card you can use for evaluations, treatment and follow-up care. CareCredit offers promotional financing on qualifying purchases, with no interest if paid in full within the promotional period. Longer-term plans are also available. Financing is subject to credit approval, and you can apply online and usually get a decision in minutes.

Yes. Spouses and dependents enrolled in Tricare can qualify for covered TMS if they meet the same criteria as service members: • 18 or older • a diagnosis of major depression • at least two antidepressant trials • an initial consultation with our provider (plus a PCM referral for Tricare Prime members) • TriWest preauthorization Adult children on Tricare Young Adult can qualify too. Tricare doesn't currently cover TMS for children under 18. Brainwave doesn't bill Medicare, so family members on Tricare For Life should call us to talk through coverage and self-pay options.