By Rodney Jackson, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Public Affairs
FORT HOOD, Texas – Fort Hood-area service members, retirees and their families enrolled in TRICARE can get health advice and help finding appropriate care through the Global Nurse Advice Line, available 24/7 and 365 days a year.
What is the Global Nurse Advice Line?
The Global Nurse Advice Line, or GNAL, connects eligible beneficiaries worldwide with registered nurses who can assess symptoms, provide evidence-based health advice and recommend the appropriate level of care. A quick call or online chat may help patients determine whether they need urgent care, an emergency room or an appointment with their primary care provider.
The service also assists with scheduling same-day or next-day appointments when a nurse recommends one. This appointment assistance is available to beneficiaries enrolled at a military hospital or clinic. Virtual urgent care may also be available in some cases.
How can beneficiaries contact the advice line?
Beneficiaries in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico can access the service by visiting the MHS Nurse Advice Line at https://mhsnurseadviceline.com/home for web chat or video chat, or by calling 800-TRICARE (874-2273) and selecting option 1.
Before contacting GNAL, beneficiaries should have their Department of Defense benefit number available. The number can be found on their military ID card.
Is the service available to beneficiaries stationed or traveling overseas?
Yes. The service is available to eligible TRICARE beneficiaries worldwide, including those stationed or traveling overseas.
Beneficiaries near an overseas military hospital or clinic can contact their local facility or visit the MHS Nurse Advice Line at https://mhsnurseadviceline.com/home to access online services and country-specific telephone numbers. When care is needed outside the Military Health System, GNAL can coordinate with the TRICARE overseas contractor.
What services can the advice line provide?
In addition to assessing symptoms, nurses can provide guidance for parents whose children are sick, help beneficiaries determine where to seek care and, when medically appropriate, provide an online absence excuse or sick slip. Beneficiaries should check their service-specific requirements for accepting such documentation.
The advice line can also help patients understand how to seek care when they have other health insurance. However, the rules of the other health insurance plan apply first, and any referred provider must be within that plan’s network.
Who is eligible to use the service?
The service is available to TRICARE beneficiaries worldwide, with exceptions for those enrolled in the US Family Health Plan or TRICARE Prime Demo, which have their own nurse advice lines.
Beneficiaries should keep their information current in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS, through milConnect to help ensure their eligibility.
How does GNAL support military health care providers?
For military health care providers, the advice line can help assess incoming patients and direct them to the appropriate level of care. This support can help organize appointment scheduling and guide patients to the services best suited to their needs.
What should beneficiaries do in an emergency?
GNAL is intended for health advice and care navigation, not emergencies. Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 911 in the United States or the applicable international emergency number overseas, or go to the nearest emergency room.
For more information, visit TRICARE.mil/NAL or watch the video, “Global Nurse Advice Line: Your Partner in Health”.
