Health Care

The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center offers robust medical services to patients in North Chicago, IL. Administrative hours of operation are 24/7. Call 847-688-1900. They also provide services in Kenosha, WI. Administrative hours of operation are Monday through Friday (excluding federal holidays) from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 262-653-9286.

Veteran Patients: Appointment Line: Call 800-393-0865.

TRICARE Patients: Call 800-941-4501 for a same day or future appointment with adult and family medicine or pediatrics. Non-enrolled patients may call the appointment line for same-day space available primary care appointments after 10 a.m. Monday through Friday.

TRICARE Online Appointment Booking:  Book your appointment using TRICARE Online. If you receive a message that no primary care appointments are available, call the appointment line at 800-941-4501

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.

Medical Care

The only military medical treatment facility in the Chicago area and the Midwest is located at the James A. Lowell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) Located at 3001 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, Illinois. Its primary mission is to provide inpatient and outpatient service support for active duty Navy personnel in basic and other service training, all other active duty members of the seven uniformed services, their DEERS eligible dependents and all eligible veterans. Health care is rendered to other authorized persons as space and resources permit.

While many TRICARE beneficiaries pay no out-of pocket costs for ER services, the average cost for an ER visit is 10 times more than an urgent care visit. In many cases, using the ER is not necessary, and a patient's condition can be treated through urgent care. TRICARE's explanation of urgent care and emergency care can help you seek the most appropriate service.

TRICARE defines an emergency as a medical, maternity or psychiatric condition that would lead a prudent layperson (someone with average knowledge of health and medicine) to believe that a serious medical condition exists, that the absence of immediate medical attention would result in a threat to life, limb or sight, when a person has severe, painful symptoms requiring immediate attention to relieve suffering, or when a person is at immediate risk to self or others.

Examples of emergencies include:

• No pulse
• Severe bleeding
• Spinal cord or back injury
• Chest pain
• Severe eye injury
• Broken bone
• Inability to breathe

You do not need to call your primary care manager or TRICARE provider before receiving emergency medical care. However, in all emergency situations, you must notify your PCM (or TRICARE if you do not have an assigned PCM) within 24 hours or on the business day following admission to coordinate ongoing care and to ensure you receive proper authorization.

TRICARE defines urgent care as medically necessary treatment for an illness or injury that would not result in further disability or death if not treated immediately but that requires professional attention within 24 hours.

Examples of urgent care situations include:

• Minor cuts
• Migraine headache
• Urinary tract infection
• Sprain
• Earache
• Rising fever

In some cases, you can receive urgent care from your PCM by making a same-day appointment. However, if your PCM is unable to provide this care in a timely manner, you may be referred to a network urgent care provider. It is important that you obtain a referral from your PCM before you receive urgent care from anyone other than your PCM. If you do not coordinate urgent care with your PCM or TRICARE, the care may be covered under the point-of-service option at greater out-of-pocket cost to you. If you are away from home and cannot wait until you see your PCM for treatment, you must contact your PCM for a referral or call TRICARE for assistance before receiving services. You can also call the Military Health System Nurse Advice Line at 800-874-2273.

Emergency services are not available at Naval Health Clinic Great Lakes. In the event of an emergency, beneficiaries are advised to immediately proceed to the emergency room nearest to them.

Routine care is rendered in this priority:

1. Active duty personnel;
2. Family members of active duty and survivors of sponsors who died on Active Duty, who are enrolled in TRICARE Prime;
3. Retirees, their family members and survivors of retirees who are enrolled in TRICARE Prime;
4. Family members of Active Duty service members and survivors of sponsors who died on Active Duty who are not enrolled in TRICARE Prime;
5. All other eligible beneficiaries

If FHCC still has primary care capacity after enrollment of all eligible members of priority groups 1 through 3, non-enrolled beneficiaries (groups 4 and 5) may continue to access health care, on a space-available basis.

The main building on the west campus is a multi-floor hospital which has facilities for separate primary care services for both DOD beneficiaries and Veterans as well as combined specialty services, laboratory, pharmacy, operating rooms, emergency room and inpatient beds.

Branch Medical Clinics: 

• Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes (Buildings 1007 and 1523)
• Training Support Command, Great Lakes (Building 237)

The military member has first priority in obtaining care from the military medical facilities, followed by the family members of active-duty personnel, with retired military and family members of retired military following in the eligibility chain. Due to the fact that there are many military families in this area, there are eight TRICARE Clinics established for your use. These clinics are operated by Navy and civilian staff. Hours vary. For more information and hours, call 1-800-941-4501 or visit the website.

Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fleet and Family Support Center

If you feel you need counseling, the NSGL Fleet and Family Support Center offers short-term, confidential counseling. To make a clinical counseling appointment at any NSGL FFSC Great Lakes location, call  Centralized Scheduling at 847-688-3603.

On base emergency services (fire, ambulance, police) are accessed by dialing 9-911.

Off base emergency services dial 911

Non-Emergency Dial (847) 688-5555

Poison control is accessible by dialing 800-942-5969.

School Physicals -- For school physicals, please contact the Appointment Call Center at 1-800-941-4501 for appointments. Please bring the following to your school physical appointment:

• Immunization record
• Health record (If a record is not maintained at the hospital)
• school physical form, if available

Dental Care

Dental services are available only for Active Duty members on base.

Community Resources

For information on local health care support utilizing TRICARE network providers, contact HealthNet, the Managed Care Support Contractor, at 1-877-874-2273.