The VA can't see you in time
Generally, this means more than 20 days for primary care, mental health care, or extended outpatient care, measured from the date you request an appointment.
TriWest & VA Community Care Network Accepted at NuView
NuView is an in-network provider within the VA Community Care Network (CCN), meaning approved Veterans can access treatment through TriWest without added out-of-network costs. Eligibility and referral approval are determined by the VA.
TriWest isn't an insurance plan itself. It's the third-party administrator that connects eligible Veterans to community providers like NuView.
Speak with Admissions
Verify Your InsuranceClinically reviewed by Linda Whiteside, MA, LPCC | Updated 28 October 2026
Is TriWest the Same as TRICARE?
Not exactly, and understanding the difference can help make sense of your benefits.
TriWest is an administrator, not an insurance plan itself. It manages two separate programs on behalf of the government:
VA Community Care Network (CCN)
TriWest administers Region 4 of the VA's community care program, connecting eligible veterans to providers like NuView when the VA can't meet certain wait time or distance standards. Learn more about behavioral health treatment for Veterans at NuView.
TRICARE West Region
TRICARE is the military health program for military families and retirees, and TriWest administers it in the West Region. NuView is in network for TRICARE West Region through TriWest, subject to your plan and authorization requirements.
Not sure which region you're in? Check your ZIP code on tricare.mil or call us.
These are two distinct programs serving different populations: veterans through VA Community Care, and military families and retirees through TRICARE, but TriWest administers both.
That means the referral process, eligibility rules, and costs can look different depending on which program applies to you.
Does VA Community Care Cover Behavioral Health?
Yes. Behavioral health treatment, including both mental health and substance use care, is a covered service under the VA Community Care Network (CCN).
This includes therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and structured levels of care like PHP and IOP, when approved as medically necessary by the VA.
Why Go Through TriWest Instead of the Department of Veterans Affairs?
Community care through TriWest isn't a workaround, but a formal Department of Veterans Affairs program built to expand access when the VA system itself can't meet the need.
To use it, you must be enrolled in or eligible for VA health care, and your VA health care team needs to approve the referral before you see a community provider, except in certain cases like urgent or emergency care.
VA Community Care Eligibility Criteria are as follows:
The drive is too far
If the nearest VA facility offering the care you need is more than a 30-minute average drive for primary care or mental health care, you may qualify.
It's in your best medical interest
If you and your VA provider agree that a community provider is the better fit for your situation, that alone can qualify you.
The VA can’t meet its quality standards
If the VA determines it can't provide the service you need in a way that meets its quality standards, you may be eligible.
These are official VA eligibility standards, not exceptions or loopholes. If you meet one, you may be eligible to request a community provider like NuView, and the VA makes the final decision. Standards for other types of care can differ.
Not sure whether you qualify? Your VA provider can tell you, and our admissions team can walk you through the steps below.
How to Access Treatment Through TriWest
Getting to treatment at NuView through TriWest generally follows this path:
- 01
Visit a VA provider
Start with your existing VA primary care or mental health provider. - 02
Request a community care referral
Let your provider know you're interested in receiving care through a community provider like NuView. - 03
The VA approves the referral to TriWest
Once approved, your referral is routed to TriWest, the administrator responsible for connecting you to community providers. - 04
Begin treatment
Once everything is confirmed, treatment can begin, coordinated between TriWest, the VA, and our admissions team.
Why Veterans Choose NuView?
Trauma and substance use don't always look the same from person to person, and treatment that doesn't account for your specific experience can fall short.
Our team brings experience working with veterans and understands how service, transition, and life after the military can shape someone's path, without assuming that's the whole story.
Whatever brought you here, you shouldn't have to over-explain your experience before someone understands what you're carrying.
Whether you're a recently separated veteran or years removed from service, our goal is care that meets you where you are, without judgment.
Coverage for Military Families
For Dependents
VA Community Care is a Veteran benefit, so it doesn't cover spouses and dependents. Military families are generally covered through TRICARE, and NuView is in-network for TRICARE West Region through TriWest.
For Spouses
If you're a spouse, parent, or adult family member, we can help you check your TRICARE benefits and understand what coverage may apply, whether you're seeking support for yourself or for a Veteran you care about.
What to Expect: Costs & Copays
What you pay depends on your VA eligibility, the type of care you receive, and whether the VA has authorized it. When the VA approves your referral and authorizes care at NuView, the VA is responsible for paying for the authorized services.
Depending on your situation, a copay may apply. If it does, it is set and billed by the VA, not by NuView.
Before treatment begins, our admissions team reviews your authorization and explains what, if anything, you may owe and when. You’ll know what to expect before you commit to anything.
What Our Team Verifies Before You Begin Treatment
Insurance and authorization details can be confusing to navigate on your own, especially with military benefits that involve multiple layers of approval. Before you begin treatment, our admissions team confirms:
Eligibility:
whether you qualify for VA Community Care, or your family qualifies for TRICARE West Region benefitsRegion and network status:
whether your coverage falls under TriWest's administered regions and whether NuView is an appropriate provider under your planReferral and authorization status:
whether your referral has been approved, and whether prior authorization is required for your specific level of careCovered levels of care:
which NuView programs and services apply to your benefitsCosts:
what, if anything, you can expect to pay, and when you are expected to pay that amountYou'll know exactly where you stand before committing to anything, with no cost and no obligation to verify.
Once we know what your plan covers, here's what treatment looks like
Military health benefits come with their own language, referrals, authorizations, and regions that can be a lot to sort through on your own. That's where we come in.
NuView is a Behavioral Health care provider, offering a full continuum of care for eligible veterans, service members, and military families through the VA Community Care Network (CCN).
No matter where you are in the process, our admissions team will go through the details with you and make sure nothing catches you off guard.
Programs
Partial Hospitalization Program
A structured, full-day program for people who need intensive support but not 24-hour residential care.
Intensive Outpatient Program
Fewer weekly hours than PHP, designed to fit around work, school or family obligations.
Evening Track
Structured evening care that supports recovery while allowing you to maintain your daily routine.
Telehealth Services
Virtual sessions for eligible California residents, for added flexibility and access.
Services within every program
Individual Therapy
One-on-one sessions with a licensed therapist.
Group Therapy
Peer support facilitated by a clinician.
Case Management
Coordinated support connecting you with the right resources throughout treatment.
Medical Services
Oversight from a psychiatric provider and clinical team as part of your care.
Verify Your VA Benefits Today
Insurance verification is complimentary, confidential, and comes with no obligation.
Call us today at (323) 307-7997 to verify your insurance and take the first step toward recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About TriWest Insurance
Yes, NuView is an in-network provider for eligible Veterans accessing care through the VA Community Care Network (CCN), administered by TriWest.
Yes. Through its network of community providers, TriWest supports addiction treatment services including residential/inpatient care, PHP, IOP, outpatient treatment, and medication-assisted treatment.
No. TriWest is a third-party administrator, but it manages the TRICARE West Region for military families and retirees, and separately administers the VA Community Care Network for eligible veterans.
Generally, yes, for VA Community Care access. A VA provider needs to approve a community care referral before TriWest can connect you to a provider like NuView.
For VA Community Care, TriWest manages Region 4, covering much of the western U.S., including California. For TRICARE, TriWest now administers the West Region, as of January 2025.
Our admissions team can confirm your eligibility, referral status, and covered levels of care directly, at no cost and with no obligation.
Substance use treatment can be covered under VA Community Care when the VA authorizes it. At NuView, that includes outpatient levels of care (PHP and IOP) and medication-assisted treatment.