TRICARE Health Plans and 2026 Costs

What it is

TRICARE is the health care program for the uniformed services. The two main plans are:

• TRICARE Prime: Like an HMO. You get a primary care manager, often at a military hospital or clinic, who refers you to specialists. Active duty members must use Prime.
• TRICARE Select: Like a PPO. You can see any TRICARE-authorized provider without a referral, but you share more of the cost.

Other plans cover special groups: TRICARE Reserve Select for Guard and Reserve, TRICARE For Life for Medicare-eligible retirees, and TRICARE Young Adult for adult children up to age 26.

Who gets it and what it costs

Costs depend on your status and your "group." Group A means the sponsor joined before January 1, 2018. Group B means they joined on or after that date.

• Active duty members pay nothing.
• Active duty families pay $0 to enroll in Prime or Select. Prime has no copays for network care. Select has copays and a yearly deductible ($50 individual for E-4 and below in Group A, up to $198 for E-5 and above in Group B). The most a family pays in a year is $1,000 for Group A or $1,324 for Group B.
• Retirees and their families pay yearly enrollment fees. In 2026, Group A Prime costs $381.96 for one person or $765 for a family. Group A Select costs $186.96 or $375. Group B fees are higher.

Pharmacy copays changed January 1, 2026. Military pharmacies are still free. Home delivery is now $14 for generics, $44 for brand name and $85 for non-formulary drugs (up to 90 days). Retail network pharmacies are $16 for generics and $48 for brand name (up to 30 days). Active duty members pay $0 everywhere.

How to use it

• Keep DEERS up to date. Coverage starts with DEERS. Add new babies and spouses fast.
• Pick a plan during open season (usually mid-November to mid-December) or within 90 days of a life event like a PCS, marriage, birth or retirement.
• Use home delivery for daily medicines. It costs less than retail for 90 days of pills.
• Call the Nurse Advice Line (800-874-2273) before going to urgent care or the ER when you are not sure.

What people miss

• Moving is a qualifying life event. After a PCS, update your address and your region if needed, or you may get bills.
• Retirement changes everything. Your fees start right away. If you miss the enrollment window, you can lose coverage until the next open season.
• New 2026 coverage. TRICARE added coverage for things like coronary calcium tests, certain nerve ablation for chronic back pain and some preventive surgeries for people at high cancer risk.
• Medicare at 65. Retirees must enroll in Medicare Part B to keep TRICARE For Life.

Related

See Dental and Vision Coverage, Guard and Reserve Benefits for TRICARE Reserve Select, and our VA benefits section for care after you leave the military.