About TRICARE.com | Independent Military Health Guide | TRICARE.com

**Disclosure:** TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program, the Department of Defense, or the Defense Health Agency. For official policy and the government portal, please visit [TRICARE.mil](https://www.tricare.mil).

## Quick answer TRICARE.com is a comprehensive, independent educational resource designed to help military members, retirees, and their families navigate the complexities of the TRICARE health insurance system. We translate dense government policy into clear, actionable guides on plans, costs, and regional transitions.

## In detail Navigating military healthcare can be overwhelming due to shifting regional contracts, annual cost updates, and complex eligibility rules. TRICARE.com serves as a third-party knowledge base to bridge the gap between official policy and beneficiary understanding.

As of April 2026, the TRICARE landscape is governed by the T-5 contract, which reorganized the regional management of care. Our site tracks these high-level shifts to ensure beneficiaries know exactly who manages their care.

### Regional Management (T-5 Contract Era) Since January 1, 2025, TRICARE has been managed by two primary regional contractors: * **TRICARE East Region:** Managed by **Humana Military**. * **TRICARE West Region:** Managed by **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** (which replaced Health Net Federal Services). * **Pharmacy Benefits:** Managed globally by **Express Scripts**. * **Overseas Care:** Managed by **International SOS**.

### What We Track TRICARE.com provides detailed breakdowns of the following plan types and their 2026 requirements:

| Plan Name | Best For | Key Feature | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **TRICARE Prime** | Active Duty & Families | Lowest out-of-pocket costs; managed care via a Primary Care Manager (PCM). | | **TRICARE Select** | Retirees & Families | Maximum flexibility; allows you to see any TRICARE-authorized provider without a referral. | | **TRICARE For Life** | Medicare-eligible Retirees | Wraparound coverage for Medicare Part A and B; no monthly premiums. | | **TRICARE Young Adult** | Adult Children (ages 21-26) | Premium-based plan for children who have "aged out" of regular coverage. |

### 2026 Cost Categories We monitor the distinction between **Group A** (Sponsors who enlisted before Jan 1, 2018) and **Group B** (Sponsors who enlisted on or after Jan 1, 2018). Enrollment fees and catastrophic caps differ significantly between these groups. For example, for 2024–2026, Group A retirees generally face lower enrollment fees than Group B, though both see annual inflation adjustments.

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Guidance on Prime enrollment and maintaining readiness. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Help choosing between Prime (no cost) and Select (more freedom). * **National Guard and Reserve:** Information on TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) monthly premiums. * **Retirees and Families:** Breakdown of TRICARE Select enrollment fees and TRICARE For Life (TFL) requirements. * **Providers:** Information on how to become a TRICARE-authorized or network provider under TriWest or Humana.

Common scenarios

### Scenario 1: The New Retiree John, a Group A retiree, transitions from Active Duty in 2026. He chooses **TRICARE Select**. We help him understand that he must pay an annual enrollment fee (roughly $380–$400 for a family in 2026) and meet a deductible before TRICARE begins cost-sharing.

### Scenario 2: The Young Adult Transition Sarah turns 21 in May 2026 and is no longer a full-time student. Her coverage under her parents' TRICARE Prime ends. TRICARE.com provides the 2026 monthly premium rates for **TRICARE Young Adult (TYA)** to help the family decide if the $300–$600+ monthly cost (depending on Prime vs. Select) fits their budget.

### Scenario 3: Moving Regions The Miller family moves from Virginia (East/Humana) to California (West/TriWest) in June 2026. We provide the steps to transfer their enrollment via the **Global Individual Longitudinal Record (GDR)** and update their information in DEERS.

## Related terms * **DEERS:** The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System; the database that determines if you are eligible for TRICARE. * **PCM:** Primary Care Manager; the doctor who coordinates your care in a Prime plan. * **Catastrophic Cap:** The maximum out-of-pocket amount a family will pay for covered services in a calendar year. * **Allowable Charge:** The maximum amount TRICARE will pay a provider for a specific service or procedure. * **MTF:** Military Treatment Facility; a hospital or clinic located on a military base.

## Sources * **TRICARE Official Site:** [https://www.tricare.mil](https://www.tricare.mil) * **Humana Military (East):** [https://www.humanamilitary.com](https://www.humanamilitary.com) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** [https://www.triwest.com](https://www.triwest.com) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [https://health.mil](https://health.mil)