Health Care

The 470th ABS Medical Flight Clinic at Geilenkirchen, GE, is the primary health care provider for active-duty members and their families in the tri-border area. The base is located about 10 minutes from Joint Force Command Brunssum.

The 470th ABS Medical Flight Clinic is not a 24-hour facility. It provides outpatient care in the areas of family practice, OB/GYN, allergies and immunizations, behavioral health and dental care. Personnel must use the Dutch Emergency Medical Services system for emergencies.

TRICARE Prime covers 100% in Europe. Family members are frequently referred for specialty care in the local civilian communities to English-speaking providers. Call 011-49-2451-99-3200 for appointments; call TRICARE at 011-49-2451-99-3400.

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.

While living in The Netherlands, your efforts in keeping fit and healthy will be complemented by the endless biking and hiking trails available for public use.

United States Army Garrison Benelux-Brunssum, Joint Force Command Brunssum and Geilenkirchen all have fitness centers, and special sports activities are offered through Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Community Recreation Services and the Allied Forces Northern Europe International School's athletic program. Club Beyond, the Torch Club and other youth activities abound for all ages. The summer sports program covers a wide range of events to include soccer, tennis and swimming.

However, if something should happen while you are enjoying the active lifestyle, the medical services at Geilenkirchen, GE, are the primary health care providers for active-duty members and their families in the tri-border area. The base is located about 2 minutes from JFC Brunssum.

When you check into the clinic with your medical records, you will be given a booklet. This booklet contains valuable information for both medical and dental clinic services, helpful German and Dutch medical phrases, and a listing of local hospitals.

Medical Care

The 470th Medical Flight is not a 24-hour facility. The clinic is closed on all NATO E-3A Component Holidays and open on most American holidays. The clinic provides outpatient care in the areas of family practice, OB/GYN, allergy/immunizations, behavioral health and dental care.

Emergency/specialty care – There is no emergency room or specialty care available at Benelux-Schinnen. Personnel must use the Dutch Emergency Medical Services system. TRICARE Prime covers l00% in Europe. Family members are frequently referred for specialty care in the local civilian communities to English-speaking providers.

Referrals -- Patients requiring evaluation or treatment beyond the capability of the clinic are referred to the United States Air Force Hospital, Bitburg; 2nd General Army Hospital, Landstuhl; Atrium Hospital Heerlen, Atrium Brunssum, The Netherlands; or Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, Geilenkirchen, Germany; Heinsberg Hospital, Germany; or another local facility.

Physical exams – Active-duty physicals are done in two parts and require two separate appointments. Call Central Appointments to make an appointment. Total force HIV testing is also provided.

Special needs -- The Exceptional Family Member Program identifies family members with special physical and/or educational needs, and ensures that those needs are being met. It also ensures you will not be assigned where those needs cannot be met. If you have an exceptional family member, contact the EFMP office to ensure needed services are available. If you are currently enrolled in a special needs program, work closely with the current base; services are limited here.

Laboratory work -- Lab personnel are responsible for obtaining and processing blood, urine and other tissue specimens as required by the provider. You will be asked to go to the lab located in the basement of the clinic. Test results are reported directly to your provider. Not all tests are done at our laboratory and specimens may be sent away to a referral lab. When this happens, it may take a few weeks for the results to get back.

Radiology -- Radiology technicians perform X-rays and other radiological procedures requested by your provider. These procedures enable your provider to determine the cause of your problem and to be able to proceed with appropriate treatment. Radiology is located at the NATO clinic on the first floor of Building 201. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Health records -- The health records of all service members and their family members are the property of the U.S. Government. You are required to maintain your records in a military treatment facility. If a record is not in a military facility, there is no way to ensure all of the important paperwork (i.e. lab slips, consults, results from civilian medical care, etc.) is placed in your record. This omission could present a serious health risk. All health records are considered privileged information; therefore, no information will be released without your written consent.

Optometry services -- Every three to four months, the clinic has a visiting optometrist from another medical facility. Call Central Appointments to book an appointment. If you need to be seen sooner, TRICARE allows one optometry visit per year for active-duty family members. See our Health Benefits Adviser for more information.

Pharmacy

Pharmacy personnel can only fill a prescription as written; you must see a provider for further refills. If you have a prescription from another facility, call or come to the pharmacy immediately to make sure it is available. For a number of reasons, we are not able to routinely fill prescriptions written by local civilian providers; however, these can usually be filled on the economy. Remember, for eligible family members of active-duty military, TRICARE will reimburse you the cost of prescription drugs.

The local Air Force pharmacy is located about 20 minutes from Benelux-Brunssum at the 470th Air Base Squadron, Medical Clinic, Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, Germany. Call commercial only at
011-49-2451-99-3200 through medical appointments. Call TRICARE at 011-49-2451-99-3400.