How to Enroll or Purchase a TRICARE Plan (2026 Guide) | TRICARE.com

Guide on how to enroll in TRICARE plans, including 2026 details on Open Season, Qualifying Life Events, and West/East regional contractor updates.

How to Enroll or Purchase a TRICARE Plan (2026 Guide)

*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program. For official policy, please visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer Most active duty service members are enrolled automatically in TRICARE Prime, but family members and retirees must actively choose and enroll in a plan to have coverage. You can typically only enroll or change plans during the annual Open Season (mid-November to mid-December) or following a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) like marriage, birth, or retirement.

In detail

Enrolling in TRICARE is a two-step process: you must first be registered in the **Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)**, and then you must select and join a specific health plan.

### 1. Enrollment Methods You can enroll in a plan through one of three primary channels: * **Online:** Use the Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) portal via milConnect. * **Phone:** Call your regional contractor (Humana Military in the East; TriWest Healthcare Alliance in the West). * **Mail:** Download and mail a paper enrollment form (DD Form 2876) to your regional contractor.

### 2. Enrollment Periods You cannot simply "buy" a plan at any time unless you are a new recruit. You are limited to: * **TRICARE Open Season:** This occurs annually from the Monday of the second full week in November to the Monday of the second full week in December. Changes made then take effect on Jan. 1 of the following year. * **Qualifying Life Events (QLEs):** You have 90 days from the date of a QLE (birth/adoption, marriage, divorce, moving, or loss of other health insurance) to enroll or change plans.

### 3. Premium-Based Plans (Purchasing Coverage) While Prime and Select are "earned" benefits, some groups must "purchase" coverage by paying monthly premiums. For 2026, these include:

*\*Note: Premium rates usually increase slightly each January 1st.*

### 4. Regional Contractors (The T-5 Contract) Effective January 1, 2025, the TRICARE management structure changed. Ensure you are contacting the correct contractor for your region: * **East Region:** Humana Military. * **West Region:** TriWest Healthcare Alliance. * **Overseas:** International SOS.

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Must enroll in Prime or Select; they are not covered automatically like the active duty sponsor. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Must "purchase" TRS if they want coverage while in a non-activated status. * **Retirees and their Families:** Must select a plan upon retirement and may be subject to enrollment fees. * **Young Adults:** Children of sponsors who have "aged out" of regular TRICARE at age 21 (or 23 if in college) but are under age 26.

Common scenarios

**The New Mother** Jane, an active duty spouse in California (West Region), gives birth on May 10, 2026. This is a QLE. She has 90 days to register the baby in DEERS and enroll the child in TRICARE Prime or Select. If she misses the window, the baby will only be covered for "space-available" care in a military hospital for the first year, with no private sector coverage until the next Open Season.

**The Retiring Soldier** Sgt. Miller retires from the Army on July 1, 2026. His "active duty" TRICARE coverage ends at midnight. To avoid a gap, he must enroll in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select as a retiree. For a Group A retiree in 2026, this may involve an annual enrollment fee (roughly $380–$750+ depending on the plan and family size—check TRICARE.mil for exact 2026 retiree fees).

**The College Graduate** In June 2026, 21-year-old Sarah graduates and is no longer a full-time student. She loses her regular TRICARE coverage. She chooses to "purchase" TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) Select. She will pay a monthly premium (which was over $300/month in previous years and is adjusted annually) directly to the regional contractor.

## Related terms * **DEERS:** The database that tracks eligibility for military benefits; you must be "green" in DEERS to enroll. * **Open Season:** The specific annual window during which beneficiaries can switch between Prime and Select. * **Qualifying Life Event (QLE):** A specific change in your life, such as a move or birth, that opens a 90-day enrollment window. * **Regional Contractor:** The private insurance company (Humana or TriWest) that manages the TRICARE network in your area. * **Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE):** The online portal inside milConnect used to process enrollment actions.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil Enrollment Page:** https://www.tricare.mil/enroll * **Defense Health Agency (DHA) - DEERS:** https://www.tricare.mil/deers * **Humana Military (East):** https://www.humanamilitary.com/ * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** https://www.triwest.com/