02 / Veterans & family · Thailand resident guide
Health care in Thailand
Separate TRICARE, CHAMPVA, FMP and Medicare before paying for care.
Apply for CHAMPVA for an eligible family member
FMP, TRICARE and CHAMPVA are not interchangeable. Check each person's eligibility and enrollment before arranging care.
Download your FMP letter and submit a Thai medical claim
VA's Foreign Medical Program covers qualifying overseas care linked to a service-connected condition, with additional rules for eligible VR&E care.
Verify a Thai provider and submit a TRICARE claim
Your TRICARE eligibility and plan govern coverage. International SOS administers overseas services under your TRICARE plan.
Check Medicare Part B requirements while living overseas
Living in Thailand does not generally remove a military retiree's Medicare Part B requirement. Do not cancel Part B merely because Medicare usually does not pay for care there.
File a CHAMPVA claim and arrange reimbursement
Eligible CHAMPVA beneficiaries can use benefits overseas. Coverage rules, cost-sharing and allowed amounts still matter.
File overseas medical claims before the deadline
Do not use one deadline or one form for every family member: CHAMPVA generally allows 1 year, FMP 2 years, and TRICARE overseas medical claims 3 years.
Prepare Thai treatment records and reimbursement details
Prepare the evidence and the reimbursement route before a large planned bill, not after discharge.
Prepare your emergency care and coverage information
In an emergency, seek the nearest appropriate emergency care. Then contact the relevant program promptly for admission, payment and follow-up requirements.
Update TRICARE payment preferences for Thailand
TOP's portal notice says mailed check payments to Thailand ended on August 21, 2026. Review your electronic-payment setup now.
Prepare a Thai pharmacy claim before leaving the counter
Get a detailed prescription record and paid receipt. A shop receipt showing only a total may be inadequate.
Document prescribed equipment and prosthetics for FMP
FMP can cover medically necessary prescribed equipment, devices and supplies, including prosthetics, when the covered-condition rules are met.
Before you act
This is an educational starting point, not an eligibility decision, medical recommendation, legal opinion or tax ruling. Use the official sources and ask the responsible agency about your circumstances.