TRICARE Drill Weekend Coverage: Rules for Guard & Reserve

*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with the official TRICARE program or the Department of Defense. For official policy, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer During a typical drill weekend (Inactive Duty Training), National Guard and Reserve members are covered by TRICARE only for injuries or illnesses incurred or aggravated in the line of duty. They do not have comprehensive "active duty" health coverage for non-service-connected issues unless they are also enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS).

## Details Coverage during drill weekend is strictly limited compared to full-time active duty service. Understanding the distinction between "Line of Duty" (LOD) coverage and comprehensive health insurance is critical to avoiding unexpected medical bills.

### Line of Duty (LOD) Coverage If you are injured or become ill while traveling to, from, or performing drill (Inactive Duty Training), you are entitled to LOD care. * **Cost:** $0 out-of-pocket for the specific injury/illness. * **Mechanism:** Your unit must initiate an LOD investigation to authorize payment for medical services. * **Limitation:** This does *not* cover routine healthcare, family members, or pre-existing conditions unrelated to your military service.

### TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) To have comprehensive health coverage that applies 24/7—including during drill weekends for non-service-connected issues—most Reservists must enroll in TRICARE Reserve Select. * **2026 Monthly Premiums:** Varies by plan year—check TRICARE.mil for current rates (Note: In 2025, individual premiums were $53.80/mo and family was $274.48/mo; expect a standard inflationary increase for 2026). * **Scope:** TRS covers the member and their family regardless of their duty status.

### Traveling to and from Drill TRICARE benefits extend to "portal-to-portal" coverage. If you are involved in an accident while driving directly to or from your scheduled drill location, you are generally covered under LOD authority. However, you must notify your commander immediately to ensure the LOD paperwork is processed through the regional contractor (Humana Military in the East or TriWest in the West).

### Pharmacy Benefits If you are injured during drill and a military provider or authorized civilian provider issues a prescription, it is filled at no cost through the LOD process. For non-drill-related medications, you must use TRICARE Reserve Select or private insurance.

## Who this affects * **National Guard members** on Inactive Duty Training (IDT). * **Reserve members** (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard). * **Unit Commanders and Administrators** responsible for LOD processing. * **Family members** (Note: Families are **not** covered by the member's drill status; they must be enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select).

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [National Guard and Reserve Members](https://www.tricare.mil/Targets/Reserve) * **Defense Health Agency:** [Line of Duty Care](https://www.tricare.mil/LOD) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [West Region Provider Portal](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military:** [East Region Claims](https://www.humanamilitary.com)