The short version: If you are a Dependent or a Retiree – the only thing you have to do is call us and schedule your appointment! You do not need to call Tricare. You do not need to go to a doctor or the MTF to get a referral! We will get the authorization for you for as many sessions as you need to feel better!

We can’t wait to assist you! Call now!

Long after a war, the retired men and women who gallantly served our country often continue to feel the effect of their experiences. Similarly, dependents of Active Duty Service members and dependents of retirees also struggle with some difficult emotional and behavioral conditions contributed by their loved one’s long years of military life and what that has/had entailed for them.

Military Retirees enjoy one of the best pension plans provided by the government, but it can be difficult to make both ends meet when a member of the family needs treatment for any overwhelming symptom. If you’re living on military retirement pay alone, treatment becomes the last priority next to food, mortgage, education, and other regular expenses. Being retired is often like being a “civilian” which means you are responsible for your health insurance choices.

Available Health Programs from TRICARE

At a time when you would most likely need medical care and insurance, you’ll find valuable benefits from TRICARE. It combines military health resources with networks of civilian health care providers, institutions, and suppliers to provide high-quality health care services to eligible members around the world.

This major money-saving benefit is ideal for Retirees and their dependents. Upon retirement, enrollment is required to become a TRICARE Prime beneficiary. Tricare Prime means you have no deductible or copay. In order for you to not make out of pocket payments is to ensure the health care provider is a Tricare Prime provider.

Tricare Select beneficiaries must pay copays and deductibles. Deductibles start over again every year – 1 January. Tricare Select beneficiaries have more civilian health resource options, because Doctor’s/Therapists don’t have to be credentialed with Tricare Prime program.

The good news is that Carolina Counseling Services contracted therapists who are Tricare providers ARE Tricare Prime Providers. This means they can accept both Tricare Prime and Tricare Select insurances.

Another option is TRICARE for Life which is a Medicare insurance plan with coverage wrapped around TRICARE beneficiaries with Medicare Part A and B, irrespective of age or location. The program entitles holders to seek care from any provider accredited by Medicare. Services can be obtained in a military hospital or specialty clinic. When choosing a therapist, it is important to know that ONLY LCSW’s and LMFT’s and Licensed Psychologists are able to take Tricare for Life because Medicare only recognizes those two licenses. (LPC’s are not able to be reimbursed by Medicare.)

Enjoying Retirement with Adequate Health Coverage

Retiring from service can be both exciting and frightening. Before you get too excited, keep in mind that it’s also a period of financial transition when military health benefits become a thing of the past. It’s important to think of how to protect you and your family when it comes to health care.

To be in emotional crisis is already a complicated situation to be in that you don’t want to be bothered with cumbersome requirements such as a doctor’s referral. With TRICARE to cover you and your dependents upon your retirement, all you need to do is to find a provider that accepts TRICARE without needing referral and without even calling TRICARE.

The NO Referral or prior authorization policy applies to Behavioral Health Counseling for beneficiaries who are dependents or Retirees with TRICARE Prime or any other TRICARE Plan. You do NOT need a Dr Referral for counseling!

Just Make the Call for Help

When you are unable to function or resolve your issues on your own, you know it’s time to get help. No need to call anyone except Carolina Counseling Services – Fayetteville, NC. When you request an appointment, referrals become the least of your concern once CCS takes the rein. Leave everything under the care of Carolina Counseling Services – Fayetteville, NC – from securing authorization to helping restore your emotional well being to better shape. We look forward to working with you!

There are no referrals required for dependents or retirees! Just call and make an appointment.

• Tricare Prime Active Duty Service Member: Doctor’s referral required. You have no copay or deductible.
• Tricare Prime: You have no copay or deductible, so there is no cost for you.
• Tricare Select: You have a deductible that must be met each fiscal year. After you meet your deductible, you will be responsible for a copay.
• Tricare Prime Retired: You will be responsible for a copay.
• Tricare Select Retired: You have a deductible that must be met each fiscal year. After you meet your deductible, you will be responsible for a copay.

Active Duty Service Members

Please remember that Dependents and Retirees do NOT need a REFERRAL to get counseling off post!

However, Active Duty Service Members DO need a TRICARE REFERRAL that is generated from their Military Treatment Facility (MTF).

Yes, it requires MORE from you to get the authorization, so why do it?

It benefits YOU the soldier to use your TRICARE insurance off post and is certainly worth the trip to the MTF!

• At Carolina Counseling Services, you can come to appointments once or twice a week (and these can be standing appointments…. the same time every week.)
• At Carolina Counseling Services, you are NOT a number! You will always have friendly, courteous service by our staff and our experienced, licensed therapists.

If you are an ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBER, and you would like to get counseling at Carolina Counseling Services, you must do the following:

1. 1. You must go to your PCM or Mental Health at Womack (these are called MTFs) and ask for a referral to a therapist here.
   2. Request your referral be for: Verna Dority, MSW, CCSW, Inc. This will allow you to see anyone at Carolina Counseling Services. (or if you prefer, you can request a specific therapist. All of the information needed is on this website.)

You may call 910-485-6336 and speak to the receptionist who may make a suggestion as to which therapist might work best with you…if you give them an idea of what your needs are. (OR you may email the owner and ask her!)

If no specific name is requested by you, when you visit the MTF, Tricare will refer you somewhere else.

Please Note: Asking for a referral to Carolina Counseling Services doesn’t work! We are not in the system by that name. Each therapist has their own credentialing with Tricare and is listed in the system by their own name. The group of therapists is listed under the corporate name of Verna Dority, MSW, CCSW, Inc. If you use that corporate name, we can place you with any Tricare therapist at CCS.

1. If your PCM and Mental Health Clinic refuse to send you to the therapist that you request, you may also use the Patient Advocacy at the hospital and discuss your situation with them.
2. Once Tricare receives the request from the MTF, they will fax the referral directly to Carolina Counseling Services. **Tricare rarely takes more than 24 hours to approve and fax an authorization once the MTF makes the request.
3. Once we receive the referral, we will call you immediately to schedule the appointment. Appointments are often made for the same day or the next day!
4. Please note: TRICARE does NOT pay for MARRIAGE COUNSELING. Tricare will pay for family counseling, if the Service member meets the criteria for medical necessity

(The Service member must have symptoms which indicate it is necessary for them to receive counseling. Examples: Overwhelmed, not sleeping, eating changes, crying, not being able to focus, anger, depression, worry, etc.)

In some cases you will not be able to get a referral off post where Tricare pays for the counseling. You always have the option of self pay. You can look on our fees page for more info.