TRICARE for Guard and Reserve: Plans & Eligibility 2026 | TRICARE.com

*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense. For official policy, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer Members of the National Guard and Reserve who are not on active duty typically qualify for **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)**, a premium-based health plan. When called to active duty for more than 30 consecutive days, these members and their families transition to active duty benefits, usually TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select, at no cost.

Details

The type of TRICARE coverage available to Guard and Reserve members depends entirely on their military status: "drilling" (inactive duty), "activated" (on federal orders), or "deactivated" (transitioning back to civilian life).

### 1. Inactive Status: TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) For most drilling guardsmen and reservists, TRS is the primary health care option. It is a "pay-to-play" plan available to Selected Reserve members who are not eligible for or enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program.

* **2026 Monthly Premiums:** Varies by plan year — check TRICARE.mil for current rates. * **Coverage Type:** It functions like TRICARE Select. You can see any TRICARE-authorized provider, but you pay less out-of-pocket if you see a network provider. * **Network Management:** Managed by **Humana Military** in the East Region and **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** in the West Region.

### 2. Activated Status (Active Duty) When you are called to active duty for more than 30 consecutive days (under federal orders), you are treated as an active duty service member (ADSM). * **Member Coverage:** You are automatically enrolled in **TRICARE Prime** (or Prime Remote). You pay $0 in premiums and $0 for covered medical care. * **Family Coverage:** Dependents become eligible for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select with $0 premiums. * **Pre-Activation:** You may qualify for early eligibility (up to 180 days) if you receive "delayed-effective-order" notifications.

### 3. Transitioning: TAMP Upon deactivation following a contingency operation, members may receive 180 days of premium-free transitional coverage through the **Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP)**. This acts as a bridge before you need to re-enroll in TRS or employer-sponsored insurance.

### 4. Retired Reserve If you are a "Gray Area" retiree (retired from the Guard/Reserve but not yet age 60), you are eligible for **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR)**. This plan has significantly higher premiums than TRS because it is not government-subsidized. Once you reach age 60 and begin receiving retired pay, you transition to standard TRICARE Retiree benefits (Prime or Select).

### 5. Pharmacy Benefits All Guard and Reserve TRICARE plans include prescription drug coverage managed by **Express Scripts**. You can fill prescriptions at military pharmacies (at no cost), through the TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery, or at retail network pharmacies.

## Who this affects * **Selected Reserve members** of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reserve. * **National Guard members** (Army and Air). * **Family members** (spouses and children) registered in DEERS. * **Gray Area Retirees** awaiting their pension at age 60.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Reserved Guard and Reserve Systems](https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/HealthPlans/TRS) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [Benefit Fact Sheets](https://health.mil/) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [West Region Portal](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military:** [East Region Portal](https://www.humanamilitary.com)