Does TRICARE Cover Annual Physicals? (2026 Guide) | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer Yes, TRICARE covers annual physicals, but the frequency and coverage rules depend on your age, beneficiary status, and specific plan. While active duty family members and retirees generally receive one covered "Health Promotion and Disease Prevention" exam per year with no out-of-pocket costs, active duty service members receive theirs through required Periodic Health Assessments (PHAs).

Details

TRICARE focuses on "preventive care" rather than just a generic "physical." For most beneficiaries, this falls under a **Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HP&DP) exam**.

### Coverage by Plan Type * **TRICARE Prime:** Annual preventive exams are covered with a $0 copayment when using a network provider. No referral is needed for the annual preventive visit. * **TRICARE Select:** For **Group A** (Enlisted before Jan 1, 2018) and **Group B** (Enlisted on/after Jan 1, 2018), there is typically no out-of-pocket cost for annual preventive exams if you see a TRICARE-authorized provider. However, if the visit transitions from "preventive" to "diagnostic" (e.g., you bring up a new chronic pain or illness during the physical), you may be charged a copayment for a regular office visit.

### Specific Age and Type Requirements (2026 Rates) * **Children:** TRICARE covers well-child exams from birth through age 6. This includes all recommended immunizations and screenings. * **Adults (Ages 6+):** One annual HP&DP exam is covered per year. * **School Physicals:** TRICARE generally does **not** cover physicals required specifically for sports, camp, or school enrollment for most beneficiaries, as these are considered administrative rather than medically necessary. *Exception:* These are covered for active duty family members if they are part of a required well-child care visit or a covered HP&DP exam. * **Active Duty:** Service members do not schedule "annual physicals" through the standard TRICARE benefit. Instead, they must complete an annual **Periodic Health Assessment (PHA)** through their unit or military clinic to maintain medical readiness.

### What is Included? Under 2026 guidelines, a covered preventive exam typically includes: * Blood pressure and body measurement (BMI). * Vision and hearing screenings. * Clinical breast exams and Pap tests (for women). * Testicular exams (for men). * Colon cancer screenings (based on age/risk). * Immunizations as recommended by the CDC.

### Costs for 2026 * **Active Duty & Families:** $0 copay. * **Retirees (Prime):** $0 copay (when using network). * **Retirees (Select):** $0 copay (when using authorized providers). * *Note: Costs may apply if the doctor performs laboratory tests or procedures not classified as "preventive" by the Defense Health Agency.*

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Covered via PHAs; standard TRICARE physicals do not apply. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Fully covered under Prime and Select. * **Retirees and their Families:** Covered annually with no copay for preventive services. * **National Guard & Reserve:** Covered for those enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS). * **TRICARE For Life (TFL) Beneficiaries:** Coverage generally follows Medicare's "Welcome to Medicare" and "Annual Wellness Visit" guidelines.

## Sources 1. **TRICARE.mil:** [Preventive Care Exams](https://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/PreventiveServices) 2. **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region):** [Preventive Services Overview](https://www.triwest.com) 3. **Humana Military (East Region):** [Wellness and Preventive Health](https://www.humanamilitary.com) 4. **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [Annual Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Exams](https://health.mil)