Health Care

There are no military medical services on or near the shipyard.

The Charette Health Center, Portsmouth (informally known as Portsmouth Naval Medical Center) provides a comprehensive range of emergency, outpatient and inpatient health care services to active-duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel, their families and the many retired military members in the Hampton Roads area (about 450,000 active-duty, retired, and dependent military members are eligible to use this facility and its clinics). On the Peninsula, for emergencies, go to the nearest civilian hospital.

Hampton Roads health clinics:

• Branch Health Clinic, Yorktown Naval Weapons Station: 757-953-8454 
• Adm. Joel T. Boone Branch Health Clinic, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek: 757-953-8351 
• Sewells Point Branch Health Clinic, Norfolk Naval Base: 757-953-9000 
• TRICARE Prime Clinic, Chesapeake: 757-953-6366 
• McDonald Army Medical Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis: 757-314-7500
• U.S. Air Force Hospital Langley, JB Langley-Eustis: 757-225-7630

All appointments are made through the TRICARE central number at 800-874-2273.

Medical care services are offered on a priority basis. The first priority of care is to active-duty military. The second priority is to family members of active duty, with retired military and family members of retired military following in the eligibility chain.

Emergency care

Active-duty personnel need to remember that they must use military health care facilities. If an emergency arises and an active-duty person must use a civilian hospital, TRICARE must be notified at once or insurance coverage is not assured.

Dental care

Dental care is available for Huntington Ingalls Industries military tenant commands and naval ships going through construction, repair or overhaul while in the yards. The dental office is located in Huntington Hall; call 757-380-7940. Dental services include routine examinations, caps, fillings, cleanings and other minor care. Active-duty family members will need to seek dental care in the civilian community utilizing MetLife TRICARE Dental Program.

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.