Reserve Retirement TRICARE: Plans, Age 60 & 2026 Rules | TRICARE.com

*Notice: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not an official government platform. For official policy and enrollment, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer Members of the Retired Reserve who are under age 60 can purchase **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR)** to maintain health coverage. Once you reach age 60 and begin receiving retired pay (becoming a "Gray Area" retiree), you transition from TRR to **TRICARE Select** or **TRICARE Prime**, and eventually to TRICARE For Life at age 65.

Details

Military retirees from the National Guard or Reserve follow a unique two-stage health insurance path based on their age and retirement status.

### Stage 1: The "Gray Area" (Under Age 60) If you have qualified for retirement (typically 20 years of service) but are not yet age 60, you are a "Gray Area" retiree. During this time, you are eligible for **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR)**.

* **Coverage:** TRR is a premium-based plan that functions similarly to TRICARE Select. You can see any TRICARE-authorized provider, but you pay lower out-of-pocket costs if you use network providers. * **2026 Monthly Premiums:** (Note: Premiums are adjusted annually). * Member Only: Check TRICARE.mil for 2026 rates. * Member & Family: Check TRICARE.mil for 2026 rates. * **Pharmacy:** Covered by Express Scripts. You can use military pharmacies (if space allows), retail network pharmacies, or home delivery.

### Stage 2: Age 60 and Receiving Retired Pay When you reach age 60 (or earlier if you have "creditable service" that lowers your retirement age), you become a "Regular Retiree." At this point, **TRICARE Retired Reserve ends.** You must take action to enroll in a new plan:

1. **TRICARE Prime:** Available if you live in a Prime Service Area (PSA). Features lower out-of-pocket costs but requires a Primary Care Manager (PCM) and referrals for specialty care. 2. **TRICARE Select:** A PPO-style plan available worldwide. No referrals are needed, but you pay annual deductibles and copayments. 3. **TRICARE Select Overseas:** Available for retirees living outside the U.S. (managed by International SOS).

### Important 2026 Enrollment Deadlines You have **90 days** from your 60th birthday (or the date you begin receiving retired pay) to enroll in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select. This is considered a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). If you miss this window, you may have to wait until the next annual Open Season.

### What happens at Age 65? Regardless of your Reserve status, at age 65 you generally become eligible for Medicare. To remain TRICARE-eligible, you must enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B. TRICARE then becomes **TRICARE For Life (TFL)**, acting as a secondary payer to Medicare.

## Who this affects * **National Guard and Reserve members** in the Retired Reserve. * **Gray Area Retirees** (under age 60/not yet receiving pay). * **Retirees age 60+** drawing military retired pay. * **Family members** (spouses and unmarried children) of the above. * **Survivors** of deceased Reserve retirees.

## Sources * TRICARE.mil: TRICARE Retired Reserve [https://www.tricare.mil/trr] * TRICARE.mil: Retiring from the National Guard or Reserves [https://www.tricare.mil/LifeEvents/Retiring/GuardReserve] * TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region Contractor): [https://www.triwest.com] * Humana Military (East Region Contractor): [https://www.humanamilitary.com]