Reserve Deployment Health: TRICARE Benefits Guide 2026 | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer When a National Guard or Reserve member is called to active duty for more than 30 consecutive days, they and their families become eligible for the same TRICARE benefits as active duty service members. This transition usually begins with "Early Eligibility" coverage up to 180 days before deployment and extends through the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) for 180 days after service ends.

Details

### Pre-Deployment: Early Eligibility Under the **Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP)** and early alert rules, if you receive delayed-effective-notice active duty orders for more than 30 days in support of a contingency operation, you may qualify for TRICARE coverage up to **180 days before** your report date.

During this window: * **The Service Member:** Is covered by TRICARE Prime (must use a Military Medical Treatment Facility or a TRICARE network provider). * **The Family:** Becomes eligible for TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote, or TRICARE Select.

### During Deployment (Active Duty Status) Once on active duty, the service member is automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime. Family members can choose their plan based on their location. * **Costs:** In 2026, there are $0 enrollment fees and $0 out-of-pocket costs for active duty family members (ADFMs) using TRICARE Prime. If using TRICARE Select, there are no enrollment fees, but small co-pays may apply for outpatient visits. * **Regional Management:** If you are stationed in the Eastern U.S., your care is managed by **Humana Military**. If you are in the Western U.S., it is managed by **TriWest Healthcare Alliance**.

### Post-Deployment: TAMP and TRS When you deactivate, your active duty TRICARE benefits do not disappear immediately if you qualify for **TAMP**. 1. **TAMP (First 180 Days):** Provides 180 days of premium-free TRICARE coverage beginning the day after your active duty service ends. This is vital for "resetting" health after a deployment. 2. **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS):** After TAMP ends, most members transition to TRS to maintain continuous coverage. TRS requires a monthly premium. (Note: As of 2026, the law still prohibits federal employees who are eligible for FEHB from enrolling in TRS, though this is scheduled to change in 2030).

### Pharmacy and Dental * **Pharmacy:** Managed by **Express Scripts**. During deployment, families can use military pharmacies ($0 cost) or TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. * **Dental:** Service members receive dental care through military clinics or the Active Duty Dental Program (United Concordia). Families must enroll separately in the TRICARE Dental Program.

## Who this affects * **National Guard and Reserve members** called to active duty for more than 30 days. * **Family members** (spouses and unmarried children) of mobilized Reservists. * **Individual Ready Reserve (IRR)** members specifically identified for mobilization.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Provider Coverage for Guard/Reserve](https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility/NGRandFamilies) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [West Region Beneficiary Portal](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military:** [East Region Guard and Reserve Resources](https://www.humanamilitary.com) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [TAMP Program Overview](https://www.tricare.mil/tamp)