TRICARE Maternity Coverage: 2026 Costs and Benefits | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer TRICARE covers all medically necessary maternity care, including prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care, typically with $0 out-of-pocket costs for Active Duty families. Coverage includes ultrasounds, screenings, labor and delivery, and breastfeeding support regardless of whether you are enrolled in a Prime or Select plan.

Details

### Comprehensive Coverage Phases TRICARE breaks maternity coverage into three distinct phases. In most cases, if you are an Active Duty Service Member (ADSM) or an Active Duty Family Member (ADFM) on TRICARE Prime, your total cost for these services is $0.

* **Prenatal Care:** Includes routine office visits, medically necessary ultrasounds, amniocentesis (for high-risk pregnancies), and screenings for gestational diabetes. * **Labor and Delivery:** Covers services for vaginal delivery, cesarean section, and complication management. Hospital stays for mother and newborn are covered. Note that TRICARE does not cover elective "boutique" ultrasounds or home births unless performed by a TRICARE-certified nurse midwife. * **Postpartum Care:** Includes follow-up exams for the mother (up to 8 weeks post-delivery) and newborn care.

### Costs by Plan (2026 Rates) Costs depend on your beneficiary status and the plan you choose: * **TRICARE Prime (ADFMs):** $0 for all maternity services and inpatient stays. * **TRICARE Select (ADFMs):** Group A beneficiaries typically pay a small daily charge for inpatient stays or a fixed copayment, whereas Group B (joined after Jan 1, 2018) may face higher cost-shares. * **Retirees:** Retirees and their families on TRICARE Select usually pay a percentage (cost-share) of the allowed amount for outpatient visits and a per-day or per-admission charge for labor and delivery—check your 2026 Summary of Benefits as these vary by Group A/B status.

### The Childbirth and Breastfeeding Support Demonstration As of 2026, TRICARE continues its demonstration project which expanded coverage for: * **Certified Labor Doulas:** Provides physical and emotional support during pregnancy and labor. * **Lactation Consultants/Counselors:** Support for breastfeeding beyond what is provided in a standard office visit. * **Breast Pumps:** TRICARE covers one manual or electric breast pump per birth event (including adoption). It also covers supplies like bottles, caps, and tubing for up to 36 months after birth.

### Regional Management * **East Region:** Managed by **Humana Military**. * **West Region:** Managed by **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** (under the T-5 contract effective 2025). * **Pharmacy:** All prenatal vitamins and medications are managed via **Express Scripts**.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Mandatory enrollment in Prime; $0 cost. * **Active Duty Family Members:** Prime or Select; typically $0 or very low cost-sharing. * **National Guard/Reserve:** Members on active duty orders or enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select. * **Retirees and Families:** Enrolled in TRICARE Select or Prime (where available); subject to cost-shares. * **Survivors:** Benefits remain available following the death of a sponsor.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** Maternity Care Overview - https://tricare.mil/maternity * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** TRICARE Breastfeeding Support - https://health.mil/ * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** West Region Maternity Claims - https://www.triwest.com * **Humana Military:** East Region Benefits - https://www.humanamilitary.com