While medical care is slightly different overseas, knowing how to navigate the host nation system will help to keep it from being complicated.
Health care is an issue that concerns everyone, no matter where you live. While medical care is slightly different overseas, knowing the ropes will help to keep it from being complicated.
Officials from the Stuttgart Army Health Clinic offer the following helpful hints so you can take charge of your care and ensure that you receive the help you deserve.
Keep your DEERS information current
Keeping Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System information up to date is the key to receiving covered and cashless health care on the economy.
The next step is to enroll into the Tricare Prime Program. Beneficiary service representatives located in the health clinic will assist with the enrollment process and explain the services offered while you serve in Europe.
Emergencies
Time is an important factor when emergency care is required, so who do you call first? Where do you go? How do you get to the hospital?
The Stuttgart Army Health Clinic on Patch Barracks is not staffed nor equipped to respond to an emergency and does not provide an ambulance service.
If you or a family member are in a true emergency situation, call DSN 114 or 116, or civilian 0711-680-114/116.
You can call the German ambulance service (dial civ. 112), but to guarantee an English speaker, call the Military Police at DSN 116 or 114. They will contact the German ambulance service and a host nation Patient Liaison.
If your emergency is on an installation, the MPs will also meet the ambulance at the gate and escort it onto the installation.
German first responders will triage and transport a patient to the nearest emergency room that can treat the injury or condition.
It is wise to enter the addresses of local hospitals into a GPS system before an emergency.
Request approval
If you or one of your family members is being admitted to a local hospital, you are required to contact the Tricare overseas contractor, International SOS, to request approval of care. Call 0800-5891599 toll free or civ. 0044-20-8762-8384, Option 1.
Next, we look at the referral process for routine care.
Referral process
The overseas contractor “International SOS” is responsible for approving/disapproving all Tricare Prime referrals that have been requested through a military treatment facility.
After the authorization has been issued by ISOS, beneficiaries have several options to request an appointment for medical care with a host nation provider. They can:
• Contact ISOS after three business days to inquire about the authorization by calling 0800-5891599 (toll free) or civ. 0044-20-8762-8384, Option 3. Upon request, ISOS will also assist with scheduling the appointment;
• Visit the Stuttgart Army Health Clinic Tricare Service Center after three business days;
• Call ISOS to request that a copy of the authorization and claim form to be sent to a civilian email address.
Information regarding the host nation provider can be found in the upper left corner of the authorization and in the instruction field.
Cancel appointments
Keep in mind that it is the beneficiary’s responsibility to cancel and/or reschedule any appointments made with a host nation provider. Host nation providers also have the right to charge a fee for missed appointments.
After treatment has been completed, the medical report will be forwarded from the host nation provider to the military treatment facility.
Upon translation, the medical report will be automatically scanned into the beneficiary’s official medical records. This guarantees continued care within the clinic or with a host nation provider.
It is important to remember that medical information cannot be released unless Department of Defense Form 2870 Authorization for Disclosure has been signed by the beneficiary. For questions regarding this policy, see the Patient Administration Office.
Dependent parents
Also note that dependent parents and parents-in-law do not have benefits eligibility under their children’s sponsorship. They are required to have their own health insurance and must pay in advance when seen at a host nation facility.
However, they can be seen as pay patients on a space available basis at the health clinic.
For more information, see the Guide to Host Nation Health Care at https://ermc.amedd.army.mil/stuttgart or download a Tricare handbook at www.tricare-overseas.com.
Beneficiaries can also visit the Stuttgart Army Health Clinic, Building 2300, Patch Barracks, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.