TRICARE Costs for Active Duty: 2026 Rates & Guide | TRICARE.com

## Quick answer Active duty service members (ADSMs) have **$0 out-of-pocket costs** for all medically necessary healthcare. They pay no enrollment fees, no premiums, and no copays for care received through military hospitals or authorized civilian providers.

## Details As of 2026, the TRICARE benefit for active duty members is designed to ensure total medical readiness at no cost to the member. While "free," specific rules must be followed to maintain this $0 cost-share status.

### TRICARE Prime for Active Duty All active duty service members are required to enroll in **TRICARE Prime** (or TRICARE Prime Remote if stationed in certain areas). Under this plan: * **Annual Enrollment Fees:** $0 (2026). * **Annual Deductible:** $0 (2026). * **Preventive Care:** $0. * **Specialty Care:** $0, provided a referral is obtained from a Primary Care Manager (PCM).

### Pharmacy Costs ADSMs pay **$0** for all prescriptions filled at military pharmacies, through TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery (Express Scripts), or at retail network pharmacies. To maintain $0 costs at retail locations, the medication must be medically necessary and the member must be in an active duty status.

### Costs for Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs) While the service member pays $0, their family members may have small costs depending on the plan they choose: * **TRICARE Prime:** ADFMs pay $0 for in-network care (with referrals). * **TRICARE Select:** ADFMs pay no annual enrollment fee but are subject to an annual deductible and fixed copayments for office visits and procedures. For 2026, these rates vary based on the sponsor’s enlistment date (Group A vs. Group B).

### The "Point-of-Service" Trap The only time an active duty member would face a cost is if they seek non-emergency care from a civilian provider without a referral. This is known as the **Point-of-Service (POS) option**. Using this option results in a deductible (typically $300 for individuals) and a cost-share of 50% of the TRICARE-allowable charge.

### Dental and Vision Costs * **Dental:** Active duty members receive $0 dental care through military dental clinics or the Active Duty Dental Program (ADDP) managed by United Concordia. * **Vision:** Active duty members receive one routine eye exam per year at $0 cost at a military clinic or authorized civilian provider.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** All branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, Coast Guard). * **National Guard/Reserve:** Only when on active duty orders for more than 30 consecutive days. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Impacted by the sponsor's status, though their specific copays differ from the sponsor.

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*Disclaimer: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or the official TRICARE program. For official policy and real-time coverage updates, visit [TRICARE.mil](https://www.tricare.mil).*

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Cost Terms](https://www.tricare.mil/Costs/Cost-Terms) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [TRICARE Plans Overview](https://health.mil) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [West Region Claims](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military:** [East Region Costs](https://www.humanamilitary.com)