The TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) provides supplemental services to active duty family members (ADFMs) with qualifying mental or physical disabilities. ECHO offers integrated services and supplies beyond those offered by your TRICARE program option (such as TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select).

Active duty sponsors with family members seeking ECHO services must sign up for their service’s Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) (unless waived in specific situations) and register for ECHO with their regional contractor to be eligible for ECHO benefits.

There is no retroactive registration for ECHO. You must get prior authorization from your regional contractor for all ECHO services.

Army Reserve Service members on drill status are not eligible for the TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO).

TRICARE Extended Care Health Option (ECHO):
https://tricare.mil/echo

Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) Fact Sheet:
https://tricare.mil/-/media/files/tricare/publications/factsheets/echo_fs.pdf