Key Takeaways
- TRICARE Prime and Select costs increased ~2-3% for 2026, tied to the 2.8% retiree COLA
- Active duty members pay nothing for healthcare; family members may have copays
- Group A vs. Group B matters: Group A (entered before Jan 1, 2018) generally has lower costs
- Pharmacy copays increased $1-$9 depending on drug type and pharmacy location
- TRICARE Reserve Select premiums rose 4-8% to $57.88/month individual, $286.66/month family
- Open Season runs Nov 10 – Dec 9 annually to change your TRICARE plan
Table of Contents
- 2026 TRICARE Cost Overview
- Understanding Group A vs. Group B
- Active Duty Family Member Costs
- Retiree TRICARE Prime Costs
- Retiree TRICARE Select Costs
- TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) Costs
- TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) Costs
- TRICARE Young Adult Costs
- 2026 Pharmacy Costs
- TRICARE For Life Costs
- TRICARE Prime vs. Select Comparison
- Frequently Asked Questions
2026 TRICARE Cost Overview
TRICARE costs for 2026 took effect January 1, 2026. Most TRICARE Prime and Select users will see modest increases of 2-3%, roughly in line with the 2.8% retiree COLA. However, some premium-based plans like TRICARE Reserve Select and TRICARE Young Adult saw larger increases of 4-8%.
Your actual costs depend on three main factors:
- Your beneficiary category: Active duty, active duty family member, retiree, Reserve/Guard, etc.
- Your beneficiary group: Group A (entered before Jan 1, 2018) or Group B (entered on/after Jan 1, 2018)
- Your plan: TRICARE Prime, Select, Reserve Select, Young Adult, etc.
Understanding Group A vs. Group B
One of the most important factors in determining your TRICARE costs is which “group” you belong to:
| Group | Definition | Generally Lower Costs? |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | Sponsor’s initial enlistment/appointment began before Jan 1, 2018 | Yes, generally lower enrollment fees and deductibles |
| Group B | Sponsor’s initial enlistment/appointment began on or after Jan 1, 2018 | Higher enrollment fees but lower copays in some cases |
Important: If you’re enrolled in a premium-based plan (TRICARE Reserve Select, Retired Reserve, Young Adult, or CHCBP), you follow Group B costs for deductibles, cost-shares, and catastrophic caps regardless of your actual group.
Active Duty Family Member Costs
Active duty service members (ADSMs) have no out-of-pocket healthcare costs. However, active duty family members (ADFMs) may have copays depending on their plan and beneficiary group.
TRICARE Prime – Active Duty Family Members
| Cost Type | Group A | Group B |
|---|---|---|
| Annual enrollment fee | $0 | $0 |
| Annual deductible | $0 | $0 |
| Primary care visit | $0 | $0 |
| Specialty care visit | $0 | $0 |
| Catastrophic cap | $1,000 | $1,000 |
TRICARE Select – Active Duty Family Members
| Cost Type | Group A | Group B |
|---|---|---|
| Annual enrollment fee | $0 | $0 |
| Annual deductible (E-4 & below) | $0 | $66 indiv / $132 family |
| Annual deductible (E-5 & above) | $0 | $198 indiv / $397 family |
| Primary care visit (network) | $28 | $19 |
| Specialty care visit (network) | $38 | $29 |
| Catastrophic cap | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Retiree TRICARE Prime Costs
Military retirees and their family members who choose TRICARE Prime pay annual enrollment fees and copays for care.
2026 TRICARE Prime – Retirees
| Cost Type | Group A | Group B |
|---|---|---|
| Annual enrollment fee (individual) | $190.92 | $462.96 |
| Annual enrollment fee (family) | $381.96 | $927.00 |
| Annual deductible | $0 | $0 |
| Primary care visit | $26 | $26 |
| Specialty care visit | $36 | $36 |
| Emergency room | $91 | $91 |
| Inpatient (per admission) | $214 | $214 |
| Catastrophic cap | $3,500 | $3,500 |
Note: Enrollment fees for medically retired members and survivors of active duty members are frozen at their enrollment rate.
Retiree TRICARE Select Costs
TRICARE Select offers more provider flexibility than Prime but with higher out-of-pocket costs and deductibles.
2026 TRICARE Select – Retirees
| Cost Type | Group A | Group B |
|---|---|---|
| Annual enrollment fee (individual) | $190.92 | $594.96 |
| Annual enrollment fee (family) | $381.96 | $1,191.00 |
| Annual deductible (individual) | $171 | $198 |
| Annual deductible (family) | $343 | $397 |
| Primary care visit (network) | $38 | $33 |
| Specialty care visit (network) | $47 | $43 |
| Emergency room | $114 | $114 |
| Inpatient (network) | 20% cost-share | 20% cost-share |
| Catastrophic cap | $3,500 | $3,500 |
TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) Costs
TRICARE Reserve Select is available to qualified members of the Selected Reserve and their families. TRS premiums saw a 4-8% increase for 2026.
2026 TRS Monthly Premiums
| Coverage | 2025 Rate | 2026 Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member only | $53.80 | $57.88 | +7.6% |
| Member and family | $274.48 | $286.66 | +4.4% |
TRS members follow Group B costs for deductibles, cost-shares, and catastrophic caps, regardless of when the sponsor entered service.
TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) Costs
TRICARE Retired Reserve is available to Retired Reserve members under age 60 who are not yet eligible for TRICARE as a “gray area” retiree.
2026 TRR Monthly Premiums
| Coverage | 2025 Rate | 2026 Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member only | $631.26 | $645.90 | +2.3% |
| Member and family | $1,513.04 | $1,548.30 | +2.3% |
TRICARE Young Adult Costs
TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) provides coverage for adult children (up to age 26) who have aged out of regular TRICARE coverage. TYA premiums increased over 7% for 2026.
2026 TYA Monthly Premiums
| Plan Option | 2025 Rate | 2026 Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRICARE Young Adult – Prime | $727 | $794 | +9.2% |
| TRICARE Young Adult – Select | $337 | $363 | +7.7% |
TYA members follow Group B costs for deductibles, cost-shares, and catastrophic caps.
2026 Pharmacy Costs
TRICARE pharmacy costs changed January 1, 2026. Most beneficiaries will pay $1-$9 more per prescription at home delivery and retail network pharmacies. These rates are locked through December 31, 2027 per the FY2018 NDAA.
Who Pays Nothing for Prescriptions
- Active duty service members: $0 at military pharmacies, home delivery, and network retail
- Survivors of ADSMs: Copayments frozen at 2017 rates
- Medically retired members and families: Copayments frozen at 2017 rates
2026 Pharmacy Copays – All Other Beneficiaries
| Drug Type | Military Pharmacy | Home Delivery (90-day) | Retail Network (30-day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generic formulary | $0 | $14 (was $13) | $16 (unchanged) |
| Brand-name formulary | $0 | $44 (was $38) | $48 (was $43) |
| Non-formulary | $0 | $85 (was $76) | $85 (was $76) |
Save Money on Prescriptions
- Use military pharmacies: Always $0 copay for covered drugs
- Use home delivery for maintenance meds: 90-day supply costs less than 3x the 30-day retail price
- Request generics: Ask your provider if a generic alternative is available
- Check the formulary: Use the TRICARE Formulary Search Tool to see drug tiers
TRICARE For Life Costs
TRICARE For Life (TFL) is for military retirees and their dependents who are eligible for Medicare Part A and Part B. TFL acts as a supplement to Medicare.
2026 TFL Costs
- Enrollment fee: None (automatic enrollment)
- Annual deductible: None from TRICARE (Medicare deductibles apply)
- Copays: Generally none after Medicare pays its share
- Catastrophic cap: $3,500
- Requirement: Must pay Medicare Part B premiums ($185/month in 2026 for most beneficiaries)
TFL pays secondary to Medicare, covering most of what Medicare doesn’t pay. For overseas beneficiaries, TFL becomes the primary payer since Medicare doesn’t cover care outside the U.S.
TRICARE Prime vs. Select Comparison
Choosing between TRICARE Prime and Select depends on your healthcare needs, location, and budget.
| Feature | TRICARE Prime | TRICARE Select |
|---|---|---|
| Primary care manager (PCM) | Required | Not required |
| Referrals for specialty care | Required | Not required |
| Provider network | MTF or Prime network only | Any TRICARE-authorized provider |
| Copays | Lower | Higher |
| Deductibles | None | Yes |
| Flexibility | Less | More |
| Best for | Those near MTFs, want lower costs | Those wanting provider choice |
Frequently Asked Questions
TRICARE Open Season runs annually from November 10 through December 9. During this period, you can enroll in, change, or disenroll from TRICARE Prime or Select. Changes made during Open Season take effect January 1 of the following year.
Yes, but only if you experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE), such as a PCS move, marriage, birth of a child, or retirement. You have 90 days from a QLE to make changes.
Premium-based plans (TRS, TRR, TYA, CHCBP) are priced based on the actual cost of providing healthcare, not the retiree COLA. As healthcare costs rise faster than general inflation, these premiums increase accordingly.
If you’re medically retired or a survivor of an active duty member, your enrollment fees are frozen at the rate when you were first classified in DEERS, as long as you maintain continuous TRICARE Prime enrollment.
A copay is a fixed dollar amount you pay for a service (e.g., $26 for a primary care visit). A cost-share is a percentage of the total cost (e.g., 20% of hospital charges). TRICARE Prime primarily uses copays; Select uses both copays and cost-shares.
The complete 2026 TRICARE cost sheets are available at TRICARE.mil/Costs/Compare.
Disclaimer: This article is provided by USMilitary.org, an independent educational resource. We are not affiliated with the Defense Health Agency, TRICARE, or any government agency. For official TRICARE information, visit TRICARE.mil or call 1-800-444-5445. This content is for informational purposes only.
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