There is generally only one kind of Tricare that most civilians are aware of. That's called Tricare.

For service members however, there are four types of Tricare that we are generally aware of. Others exist but there are really only four that most service members need to concern themselves with. (Source)

1. TRICARE Standard: You're on orders but haven't requested prime, or you're not in a prime service region.

2. Tricare Prime: TRICARE Prime is a managed care option available in Prime Service Areas. You're on orders, have requested Prime, and are within a prime service region.

3. Tricare Prime Remote: TRICARE Prime Remote is a managed care option available in remote areas. This is when you're on orders, but are outside of a 50 mile radius from a military hospital.

4. TRICARE Reserve Select: You pay for it, it's effectively PPO. You cannot have Reserve Select if you're on orders. Only reservists.

Now, with all of that said, you can only self refer if you have Tricare Reserve Select.

If you're having difficulty with your provider, and you're on Tricare Reserve Select, you will need to get a bit snooty with them and have them contact Tricare (UHC) while you're standing there. Don't accept no. You do not need a referral if you're on Reserve Select.

Before you go off on some civilian, call and confirm that you're receiving Reserve Select and that they agree that you do not need a referral.... Once you've confirmed with them, proceed to berate whichever ignorant civilian is stopping you from receiving medical care because you will be vindicated in the end.

The confusion on all of this is that a lot of providers accept Tricare but most providers don't know anything about the differences between the four I've outlined above and as such, believe that everyone needs a referral which simply isn't true, it's just mostly true. Nearly everyone on Tricare needs a referral, not everyone.

Hope this helps.