Health Care

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 TRICARE 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 TRICARE 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 TRICARE 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 TRICARE 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 TRICARE 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 TRICARE Request Copies of Medical Records.

JB Charleston has two clinics, the 628 Medical Group (Airbase) and the Naval Health Clinic Charleston NHCC (Naval Weapons Station)

On the Air Base, the 628th Medical Group provides comprehensive health care services and programs for treating and/or preventing illness and maintaining health for our patient population. Clinic hours are 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday. Patient care is by appointment only.

The 628th Medical Group is part of the Department of Defense Composite Health Care System, which is a computer link between local military medical facilities. Since all medical appointments are made through this computer system, patients must be registered in the CHCS in order to make appointments. Patients can register in CHCS by coming into the Managed Care Flight Office. In our health care network, we provide for almost all medical specialties in the community.

Appointments can be made through the Central Appointments desk at 843-963-6880 up to three weeks in advance. Patients with scheduled appointments are asked to arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled time to check in and fill out any necessary paperwork before seeing the health care provider.

Active-duty sick call for non-flyers is by appointment. Active-duty members with acute health care problems who feel they need to be seen that day should call for an appointment beginning at 7:30 a.m. Active duty in temporary duty travel status will be treated as permanent-party members with acute illnesses. Active-duty members in leave status will be required to make routine or acute appointments depending on the type of illness.

Note: Changes occur quite frequently within TRICARE, so be sure to contact the health benefits advisor for the very latest information on TRICARE.

The Naval Health Clinic provides superior health care to our service members, veterans, and family members.  Active-duty personnel do have the highest priority, however all family members, as well as retirees, are eligible to be seen at Naval Health Clinic Charleston with some exceptions. The clinic does not have an emergency room.

Central Appointments are available Monday - Friday 6:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. and is closed on weekends and federal holidays. To make, cancel, or reschedule an appointment, please call Central Appointment Line at (843) 794-6221.  After hours, patients can call the TRICARE Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-TRICARE available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  You can get health care advice, make appointment with your Primary Care Manager, or get referrals for urgent care needs.

Members can review their referrals online at Humana-Military: http://www.humana-military.com or you can contact our Referral Management Center Monday - Friday at (843) 794-6231.

Naval Health Clinic Charleston (NHCC) is excited to announce we have re-opened enrollment for TRICARE Prime Active Duty Family Members, Retirees, and Retiree Family Members.  If you currently have TRICARE Prime and are empaneled with a civilian Primary Care Manager (PCM) but would like to enroll at NHCC please contact Humana at 800-444-5445.