TRICARE Guard Family Coverage: Rates & Plans 2026 | TRICARE.com

*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not an official government platform. For official policy and enrollment, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer National Guard and Reserve families are covered by **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)** when the member is in inactive status. If the Guard member is called to federal active duty for more than 30 consecutive days, the family automatically becomes eligible for **TRICARE Prime** or **TRICARE Select** at no cost, just like active-duty families.

Details

### Coverage During Drill Status (Inactive Duty) For the majority of the year, National Guard families access healthcare through **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)**. This is a premium-based plan that requires the service member to be in the Selected Reserve.

* **2026 Monthly Premiums:** For the 2026 plan year, the monthly premium for a Family plan is **$256.45** (Member-only is $51.95). * **How it works:** It functions like a PPO. You can see any TRICARE-authorized provider, but you pay lower cost-shares if you use a provider in the network (Humana Military in the East; TriWest in the West). * **Enrollment:** Coverage is not automatic. The service member must log into the DMDC Reserve Component Health Care Enrollment System (RCHCES) to elect coverage.

### Coverage During Federal Active Duty (T-10) When a Guard member is "activated" (called to federal active duty for more than 30 days), the family's coverage status changes significantly: 1. **Transition to Active Duty Benefits:** The family becomes eligible for active-duty family member (ADFM) benefits. 2. **Zero Premiums:** The family no longer pays the TRS monthly premium. 3. **Plan Choices:** * **TRICARE Prime:** Enrollment required. Families generally pay $0 out-of-pocket for covered services at military hospitals or within the network. * **TRICARE Select:** No enrollment fee for families of active-duty members. You pay a deductible and cost-shares but have more flexibility in choosing doctors. 4. **TAMP:** After the active-duty orders end, families often qualify for the **Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP)**, which provides 180 days of premium-free TRICARE coverage to help transition back to TRS.

### Pharmacy and Dental Benefits * **Pharmacy:** Guard families have access to the TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery (Express Scripts), military pharmacies, and retail network pharmacies. * **Dental:** Unlike medical, dental is handled separately via the **TRICARE Dental Program (TDP)**, managed by United Concordia. This requires a separate monthly premium.

## Who this affects * **National Guard and Reserve Members:** Specifically those in the Selected Reserve. * **Spouses and Children:** Dependent family members registered in DEERS. * **Survivors:** Eligible survivors of National Guard members may remain eligible for coverage at specific rates.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [TRICARE Reserve Select](https://www.tricare.mil/trs) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [Benefits for National Guard and Reserve](https://health.mil) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [West Region Provider Network](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military:** [East Region Coverage Info](https://www.humanamilitary.com)