Healthcare in the KMC: World-Class Care

The KMC is home to one of the finest military medical facilities in the world: Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC). Combined with the Ramstein Clinic and access to excellent German healthcare, you and your family will have outstanding medical care options during your tour.

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC)

LRMC is the largest US military hospital outside the United States, located on Landstuhl Army Post, about 10 minutes from Ramstein Air Base. It serves as the primary evacuation hospital for wounded service members from downrange operations and provides comprehensive care to the KMC community.

Services Available:

Emergency Department (24/7)
Primary Care / Family Medicine
Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
OB/GYN and Labor & Delivery
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
General and Specialized Surgery
Cardiology, Dermatology, Ophthalmology
Behavioral Health and Psychiatry
Dental Clinic
Pharmacy
Radiology (X-ray, MRI, CT)
Laboratory Services

Contact: DSN 590-5762 / Commercial +49 6371-9464-5762
Appointments: Book through TRICARE Online (TOL) or call the appointment line.

Ramstein Clinic

The Ramstein Clinic (Building 2114) provides primary care, flight medicine, immunizations, and pharmacy services on Ramstein Air Base. For many routine visits, this is more convenient than traveling to LRMC.

TRICARE Overseas Program

Overseas, TRICARE works differently than in the US:

TRICARE Prime Overseas — Active duty members are automatically enrolled. Dependents should enroll during in-processing. No enrollment fee. You are assigned a Primary Care Manager (PCM) at LRMC or the Ramstein Clinic.
TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas — For members stationed far from an MTF (not applicable in the KMC since LRMC is nearby).
TRICARE Select Overseas — Available for retirees and some dependent categories. Higher out-of-pocket costs but more flexibility in choosing providers.

Referrals to German Providers

If the military facility cannot provide a needed service, TRICARE will issue a referral to a German (host nation) provider. This is common for:

Certain specialists (dermatology, allergy, certain surgical subspecialties)
Physical therapy (Physiotherapie)
Orthodontics
Off-hours urgent care

How it works: Your PCM issues a referral. The TRICARE Overseas office coordinates with a German provider. You present your referral and military ID at the German office. TRICARE covers the cost. You may need to pay upfront and file for reimbursement.

Using German Emergency Services

In a true emergency, go to the nearest facility — German or military:

LRMC Emergency Room — Open 24/7. Go here for emergencies if you can.
German Emergency — Call 112 for fire and ambulance anywhere in Germany and Europe. German emergency rooms (Notaufnahme) at Westpfalz-Klinikum in Kaiserslautern provide excellent care.
After-Hours Non-Emergency — Call 116 117 for the German on-call doctor service (Aerztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst). Available evenings and weekends for non-emergency medical issues.

Important: If you receive emergency care at a German hospital, notify TRICARE within 24 hours. Keep all receipts and documentation for reimbursement.

Pharmacy

The military pharmacies at LRMC and Ramstein Clinic fill prescriptions at no cost for TRICARE Prime enrollees. German pharmacies (Apotheke) are identified by a red or green "A" sign. Many over-the-counter medications that are available on the shelf in the US require asking the pharmacist in Germany.

Military Pharmacy — Free for most prescriptions. Bring your prescription or have it sent electronically.
German Apotheke — Can fill prescriptions written by German providers. You may pay out of pocket and submit for TRICARE reimbursement. Staff often speaks English near military installations.
TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy — You can use Express Scripts mail order for maintenance medications shipped to your APO address.

Dental Care

Active Duty — Dental care is provided at the military dental clinics on Ramstein and LRMC at no cost.
Dependents — Enroll in the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) through United Concordia. Dependents can be seen at the military dental clinic on a space-available basis or use approved German dentists.

Mental Health Resources

The KMC has robust mental health support:

LRMC Behavioral Health — Counseling, psychiatry, and psychological services.
Military OneSource — Free, confidential counseling (up to 12 sessions). Available 24/7 at 1-800-342-9647 or +49 0800-1800-5342 from Germany.
Military Family Life Counselors — Embedded in schools and on installations. No records, no appointments needed.
Chaplain Services — Confidential counseling available at all installations.

The healthcare infrastructure in the KMC is among the best in the entire overseas military community. Enroll in TRICARE, establish with a PCM, and do not hesitate to use both military and German medical services when needed.

Tricare Overseas: Gesundheitsversorgung in Landstuhl & Umgebung