USAG Japan, Zama  Health

The Brig. Gen. Crawford F. Sams U.S. Army Health Clinic, located at Camp Zama, provides outpatient primary care and behavioral health services to active-duty service members and their families. Retirees, government employees and their family members are only seen on a limited, space-available basis. Specialty services such as obstetrics, pediatrics and internal medicine are referred to host nation facilities or other military treatment facilities, based on eligibility.

The U.S. Army Health Clinic does not have after hours or emergency care.

Access to health care in Japan follows a different structure and process than commonly found in the United States. Consult your health insurance carrier or health benefits adviser for more information on accessing health care in Japan.

When you move, TRICARE moves with you. No matter where you go in the world, TRICARE is there before, during and when you get to your next duty station.  

There are steps you need to take to make sure changes to your TRICARE coverage go smoothly. Understand that when you move, you may have to use a different TRICARE option. Visit Moving to learn more.

Before you move, you should take care of any routine medical needs, including immunizations, and fill your prescriptions so you have enough while traveling. If you need care during your move, visit Getting Care When Traveling to learn what to do.

Filling prescriptions while traveling

You should refill prescriptions before traveling. But if you run out of a prescription drug while traveling, visit Filling Prescriptions When Traveling.

Getting dental care while traveling

Getting dental care while traveling depends on your location and whether you are a service member or family member.

• If you are an active-duty service member within the United States or in U.S. territories, and near a military installation, you may be able to get emergency dental care at the dental treatment facility, or DTF, if available. If not, contact the active duty dental care program before you see a dentist and tell the contractor about your move. You will need to get an authorization before you see a dentist. The Active Duty Dental Care Program will work with you, so you can get care from a local network dentist.
• If you are an active-duty service member at an overseas location, call the overseas regional call center to get authorization before you see a civilian dentist.
• If you are an active-duty family member within the United States, in U.S. territories or at an overseas location, you can find out if any nearby military dental treatment facility treats active-duty family members. If you're enrolled in the TRICARE dental program, call the TRICARE dental program contractor or visit their website to find a provider. You will need to get an authorization before you see the dentist.

With permanent change of station orders, ask for a copy of your medical and dental records from your military treatment facility and the dental treatment facility. Do this at least one month before your PCS date. The MTF should also transfer a copy of your record and any family records to your new duty station or you may be able to hand carry them to your new duty station.

If you want someone else to be able to get medical or dental information on you or your family while you are moving, you need to complete a DD Form 2870, "Authorization for Disclosure of Medical or Dental Information."

For more information on getting copies of medical records, visit Request Copies of Medical Records.

Installation Specific Information

The Brig. Gen. Crawford F. Sams U.S. Army Health Clinic is a Joint Commission-accredited health care facility and is staffed by family practice providers who see all authorized beneficiaries.

Civilian costs -- While active duty, their family members, retirees and their eligible family members receive medical care at the clinic at no cost, civilians employed by the U.S. government are charged for care administered at either the military or Japanese health care facilities. Medical caregivers in Japan require payment in full at the time of treatment. Reimbursement may be sought through your health insurance carrier.

Inpatient care -- Beneficiaries requiring inpatient care are referred to the 374th Medical Group Yokota, U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, host nation medical facilities or medical facilities outside of Japan. Beneficiaries who are referred to inpatient care facilities will be offered translation services for initial and follow-up appointments with Japanese medical providers.

Emergency care – Medical Department Activity-Japan does not have emergency or urgent care capabilities. For emergencies on base, dial 911 (DSN and Allied Telesis numbers) or 119 (Japanese cellphones). For emergencies off base, dial 119 (Japanese phones).

911 (DSN and Allied Telesis numbers) calls initiated on Camp Zama and the Sagamihara Housing Area are answered by the Camp Zama Department of Emergency Services. If there is a medical emergency, the DES will direct host nation/local Emergency Medical Services to your location. After dialing 911 (DSN and Allied Telesis numbers) on Camp Zama or SHA and a patient is taken to a host nation facility for emergency medical treatment, MEDDAC-J will dispatch a translator to meet the patient at the host nation facility or ride along in the host nation ambulance to facilitate communication between the patient and staff.

119 calls off base will be answered by the Japanese Emergency Medical System. Some 119 operators may not be able to speak English. Japanese EMS will respond to your emergency.

Global Nurse Advice Line – The Nurse Advice Line is available to all personnel assigned to Japan regardless of patient care priority category or beneficiary category:

• 800-TRICARE (874-2273), Option 1 (from U.S. phones)
• DSN: 9-4-888-901-7144 (from Japan only)
• Cellphone: 00-66-9982-1820 (from Japan only)
• http://www.tricare.mil/ContactUs/CallUs/NAL (for more information)

Clinic information desk:

• 011-81-46-407-4127 (from the U.S. and U.S. numbers)
• DSN: 315-263-4127
• Cell: 046-407-4127 (from Japan only)

Interactive Customer Evaluation link -- http://ice.disa.mil/

TRICARE Online Patient Portal -- http://www.tricareonline.com/tol2/prelogin/desktopIndex.xhtml