g. Camps such as camps for diabetics or obese people.
h. Care or supplies furnished or prescribed by a person in the immediate family.
i. Chiropractors and naturopaths.
j. Christian Science absent treatment, also called treatment through prayer and
spiritual means, in which the patient is not physically present when the Christian
Science service is rendered.
k. Chronic fatigue syndrome: TRICARE Standard does not cover treatment for
chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as a defined illness, since there are generally accepted
standards for treatment of CFS, and existing treatments have not been consistently
shown to be effective. Legitimate treatment for CFS is limited to relieving individual
symptoms, such as prescribing medications for headaches or muscle pains.
l. Cosmetic, plastic or reconstructive surgery. Plastic surgery on a patient's
nose would be covered if it was necessary for the patient to breathe. Additionally, plastic
surgery would be covered to correct a serious birth defect such as a cleft lip, to restore
body form after an accidental injury, and to improve appearance after severe
disfiguration or extensive scarring from surgery for cancer.
m. Counseling services. TRICARE Standard does not cover nutritional
counseling, diabetic self-help counseling, diabetic self-education programs, stress
management, life-style modifications, marriage counseling (marriage counseling is not
the same as treatment by a marriage and family therapist, which is covered under
TRICARE Standard), etc. Counseling services may be covered under the expanded
preventive care benefit, as long as they are performed in connection with
immunizations, pap smears, mammograms, or examinations for colon and prostate
cancer. However, they are expected components of good clinical practice that are
integrated into the appropriate office visit at no additional charge.
n. Custodial care in an institution or home. Custodial care is taking care of
someone's daily needs, such as eating, dressing or a place to sleep, as opposed to
someone's medical needs. Some aspects of the care may be covered, such as limited
specific skilled nursing services (one hour per day), prescription medicines and up to l2
physician visits per calendar year. Medically necessary care for an inpatient in a
hospital is covered, even if the person's condition is considered custodial. This can be
a gray area, so check with your HBA or TSC if you have questions.
o. Dental care and dental x-rays, except if it was a necessary part of other
medical care covered.
p. Education or training, except und er the Program for Persons With Disabilities.
q. Electrolysis.
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