Health Care/Special Needs

Whether this is your first move, or you’re a seasoned professional, moving can be a challenge. A little planning and preparation can help make your move as easy as possible. Try the following Defense Department resources to help you get organized:

• PCS & Military Moves on Military OneSource.mil provides comprehensive moving resources, information and services all in one simple location
• Plan My Move, an online tool that helps break down the moving process into clear, customizable steps, with checklists to help keep you organized and on track
• EFMP & Me, an online tool to help you plan for transition and continuity of support services for your family member(s) with special needs

Make sure your transition is as smooth as possible by visiting Moving on the TRICARE website. Talk to your medical case manager before you move. They can help you find a new doctor and other resources to avoid any interruptions in coverage.

On arrival at your new duty location, you or your sponsor can contact the Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator at the military treatment facility. They can help if you have questions or need assistance with authorizations for TRICARE Extended Care Health Option, or ECHO, services.

All TRICARE regional offices and most military treatment facilities are staffed with beneficiary counseling and assistance coordinators who educate beneficiaries and help with TRICARE-related eligibility, enrollment, referrals/authorizations and claims processing questions. If you or your family has more complex needs, contact your TRICARE case manager.

TRICARE debt collection assistance officers are assigned to regional offices and military treatment facilities worldwide. DCAOs assist with confirmed debt collection due to unpaid TRICARE claims. Please note, the debt must be in collections or listed on your credit report.

Medicaid provides health coverage for eligible individuals and families with low incomes or with special needs. The department of social services or the department of medical assistance may administer the Medicaid program in your state. Supplemental Security Income is a cash assistance program intended to assist adults and children with special needs who have limited resources. Families must reapply after moving to a new state.

Medicaid waivers are state-specific Medicaid programs that provide funding for long-term care services to be provided in the community instead of in nursing homes or hospitals. There may be waitlists for waivers, however many states have agreed to the policy of allowing active-duty military families to enroll in their state of legal residence to get on the wait list.

Learn more about Benefits for Families With Special Needs.

The TRICARE Extended Care Health Option provides supplemental services to:

• Family members of active-duty service personnel (this includes activated National Guard and reserve service personnel)
• Family members who are covered under the Transitional Assistance Management Program
• Children or spouses of former service members who are victims of abuse and qualify for the Transitional Compensation Program
• Family members of deceased active-duty sponsors while they are considered transitional survivors.

The qualifying family member’s disability must be entered properly in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System to have access to TRICARE ECHO services.

For qualifying medical and/or educational special needs, TRICARE ECHO offers integrated services and supplies beyond those offered by your TRICARE program option (such as TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select). See this TRICARE ECHO factsheet for more information, or listen to this TRICARE ECHO webinar on Military OneSource.

Military hospitals and clinics are found at military bases and posts around the world. They are also referred to as military treatment facilities. Before you move, find out your new military treatment facility and contact them for local information.

Medical case management involves a team of health care professionals who help you and your family find solutions to complex health problems. It is important to let your medical case manager know if you are moving. They can help you connect with a medical case manager at your new location. Learn more about TRICARE case management services.

If your family member has special transportation needs for the move, such as oxygen or a special bed or wheelchair, contact your TRICARE medical case manager. They can advise you on equipment and transportation.

You can also contact your current installation’s household goods/transportation office (outbound) for information on special procedures for transporting medical equipment.

Exceptional Family Member Program

Overseas Medical Screening - All military personnel with an OCONUS assignment who elect to serve an accompanied tour must have family members medically and educationally screened and, if required, enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program. To start the process, access your MyVector account and complete the EFMP screener. Once completed, you’ll be prompted to complete an application with medical information for each family member. Once you submit it forward, it’ll go through numerous EFMP offices for reviewing and then approval or denial. This process should be completed between 6 months and 2 months prior to the RNLTD. Identification during overseas medical screening can result in a delay of approval for the family member travel if the family member has an exceptional medical, educational, or behavioral need and has not previously been enrolled in EFMP. The Air Force EFMP program ensures military members are assigned where family members with exceptional needs can receive required services.

EFMP is a program specifically designed to ensure service availability for family members of active-duty military in the event of a PCS. Its purpose is to assist families with relocation when a medical, educational, or behavioral health condition exists and services are not available at the current or projected location. Also, it assists families with finding resources on base and in the local community. Active-duty sponsors are given an assignment limitation Q-Code to identify their family member’s enrollment in the Exceptional Family Member Program.

Enrollment is mandatory per Congress for all active-duty military personnel who have a family member with an exceptional need.

A medical exceptional need is one that requires specialized care (urology, neurology, psychiatry, developmental pediatrics, etc.) for an ongoing chronic illness lasting 6 months or longer. A medical exceptional need is considered a potentially life-threatening condition(s) and or a chronic medical/physical condition(s) requiring follow up support more than once a year or specialty care at any frequency.

A behavioral or mental health need is one which requires ongoing psychological or psychiatric treatment or services for longer than six months and within the past five years. Qualifying conditions and diagnosis might include but are not limited to ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Schizophrenia.

An educational exceptional need is one which requires special education services in order to progress academically. These services are identified in an Individualized Education Plan or Individualized Family Service Plan and may include specific learning disability, psychological services, occupational, speech, or physical therapy. It may also include ABA therapy.

Your EFMP status is processed through the Military Personnel Flight at your current assignment. Likewise, the overseas medical clearance paperwork is processed through the EFMP office at the Medical Treatment Facility at your current assignment. You must not PCS until you get EFMP travel approval for your dependents unless you are going unaccompanied.

Parents of children with an IEP, IFSP, or 504 should hand-carry all pertinent school and medical documents. These should include the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and current testing and evaluation reports.

If your child requires specialized equipment (for example large print books, an FM trainer, or Braille services) contact the Area Special Education Coordinator in Wiesbaden Germany.

For further information or questions about the process, contact your local EFMP Family Support Coordinator located at the M&FRC.

DoDEA-Europe, Wiesbaden, Germany
Special Education Coordinator
Office of the Deputy Director, DoDEA-Europe
Unit 29649, Box 7000
APO AE 09096

011-49-611-380-7219
Fax: 011-49-611-380-7575

United Kingdom Community Superintendent
DSO Unit 5185, Box 470
APO AE 09461 - 5470

DSN: 314-226-7241
011-44-1638-527241
Fax: 011-44-1638-527243