How to Enroll in TRICARE: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide | TRICARE.com

*Disclaimer: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program or a government agency. For official policy and enrollment actions, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer To enroll in TRICARE, you must first be registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Once eligible, you can enroll online via the Beneficial Web Enrollment (BWE) portal, by mailing a paper form to your regional contractor (Humana Military in the East or TriWest in the West), or by calling them directly.

Details

### 1. Confirm DEERS Eligibility Before you can select a plan, your military sponsor must register you in DEERS. Keep your address, phone number, and email updated; if DEERS information is incorrect, you may be denied enrollment or have claims rejected.

### 2. Choose Your Plan Enrollment typically happens during the annual **Open Season** (usually mid-November to mid-December) or following a **Qualifying Life Event (QLE)** such as marriage, birth of a child, or retirement.

* **TRICARE Prime:** Requires an enrollment form. You will be assigned a Primary Care Manager (PCM). * **TRICARE Select:** Requires an enrollment form. You have more flexibility to choose providers but higher out-of-pocket costs. * **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) / Retirement Reserve (TRR):** Requires a specialized application and an initial two-month premium payment. * **TRICARE For Life (TFL):** Enrollment is automatic once you have Medicare Parts A and B and show as eligible in DEERS. No separate TRICARE enrollment form is needed.

### 3. Enrollment Methods As of 2026, you can use the following methods to enroll: * **Online:** Visit the [milConnect](https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/) website and use the Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) tool. * **Phone:** * **East Region:** Contact Humana Military at 1-800-444-5445. * **West Region:** Contact TriWest Healthcare Alliance at 1-888-TRIWEST (1-888-874-9378). * **Overseas:** Contact International SOS. * **Mail:** Download the specific enrollment form for your plan (e.g., DD Form 2876 for Prime) and mail it to your regional contractor.

### 4. Costs and Fees (2026 Rates) While Active Duty members pay $0, other groups may face enrollment fees: * **Group A Retirees (Sponsor joined before 2018):** Varies by plan year—check TRICARE.mil for 2026 rates. * **TRICARE Reserve Select:** Monthly premiums are required (e.g., $50+ for individuals, $250+ for families—check TRICARE.mil for 2026 specifics). * **Split Enrollment:** If family members live in different regions (e.g., a student away at college), you must coordinate with both Humana Military and TriWest.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Automatic enrollment in Prime, but must take action for family members. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Must manually enroll in TRS or TRR and pay monthly premiums. * **Retirees and Families:** Must enroll in Prime or Select within 90 days of retirement or during Open Season. * **Survivors:** Eligible to continue coverage but may need to change plan types.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Enrollment Page](https://www.tricare.mil/enroll) * **Humana Military (East):** [humanamilitary.com](https://www.humanamilitary.com/) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** [triwest.com](https://www.triwest.com/) * **Defense Manpower Data Center (DEERS):** [milConnect](https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/)