TRICARE After Retirement: 2026 Enrollment & Cost Guide | TRICARE.com

## Quick answer When you retire from active duty, your TRICARE coverage does not automatically continue; you must take action to re-enroll within 90 days of your retirement date. You will transition from "Active Duty" status to "Retiree" status, which requires choosing between TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select and paying annual enrollment fees and cost-shares for the first time.

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

Details

### 1. The 90-Day Enrollment Window Retirement is a **Qualifying Life Event (QLE)**. You have exactly 90 days from the date of your retirement to enroll in a retiree health plan. If you miss this window, you can only enroll during the annual Open Season (typically mid-November to mid-December) or after another QLE. During the gap between your retirement date and your new enrollment, you may have to pay out-of-pocket for care and seek reimbursement later.

### 2. Choosing Your Plan Retirees generally choose between two primary options: * **TRICARE Prime:** Similar to an HMO. You have a Primary Care Manager (PCM) and need referrals for specialty care. It has the lowest out-of-pocket costs but less flexibility in choosing providers. * **TRICARE Select:** Similar to a PPO. You can see any TRICARE-authorized provider without a referral. It has no enrollment fee for "Group A" (enlisted/started before 2018) but involves higher deductibles and cost-shares.

### 3. Costs and Fees (2026 Rates) Unlike active duty service, retirement introduces enrollment fees and higher cost-shares. * **Enrollment Fees:** For 2026, TRICARE Prime retiree enrollment fees vary based on when you joined (Group A vs. Group B). For Group A retirees, the annual fee is approximately $385 for an individual or $771 per family (based on 2025/2026 trends; check TRICARE.mil for exact 2026 precision). * **Catastrophic Cap:** The maximum amount you will pay out-of-pocket in a calendar year increases significantly upon retirement. For many retirees in 2026, this cap is $4,330 per family.

### 4. Regional Management Your benefits are managed by regional contractors. If you move during retirement, you must coordinate with your new contractor: * **East Region:** Humana Military. * **West Region:** TriWest Healthcare Alliance (T-5 Contractor). * **Pharmacy:** Managed globally by Express Scripts.

### 5. Dental and Vision TRICARE dental and vision coverage for active duty ends at retirement. Retirees and their families are eligible to purchase dental and vision insurance through the **Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)**, managed by OPM. You must enroll in FEDVIP during your 90-day QLE window.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members** transitioning to the retired list. * **Retired Service Members** under age 65. * **Family Members** of retirees (spouses and dependent children). * **Medal of Honor Recipients** and their families.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** Retiring from Active Duty - https://www.tricare.mil/LifeEvents/Retiring * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** TRICARE Plans - https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Access-Cost-Quality-and-Safety/TRICARE-Health-Plan * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** West Region Portal - https://www.triwest.com/ * **Humana Military:** East Region Portal - https://www.humanamilitary.com/