TRICARE Prime Enrollment Fees: 2026 Cost Guide | TRICARE.com

Active duty service members and their families pay $0 in enrollment fees for TRICARE Prime. Retirees and their families do pay an annual enrollment fee, which is determined by whether the sponsor entered service before or after January 1, 2018 (Group A vs. Group B).

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with the official TRICARE program or the Department of Defense. Visit TRICARE.mil for official policy updates.*

Details

TRICARE Prime enrollment fees apply only to retirees, their families, and certain survivors. Active duty service members (ADSMs) and active duty family members (ADFMs) never pay enrollment fees for Prime.

For those who do pay, the cost is split into two categories based on the sponsor's initial enlistment or appointment date.

### Group A vs. Group B * **Group A:** Sponsor joined the military **before** January 1, 2018. * **Group B:** Sponsor joined the military **on or after** January 1, 2018.

### 2026 Retiree Enrollment Fees (Annual) | Beneficiary Type | Group A (2026 Rates) | Group B (2026 Rates) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Individual** | $385.02 per year | $538.00 per year | | **Family** | $770.04 per year | $1,076.00 per year |

*Note: Group A rates typically increase annually based on the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). Group B rates are set annually by the Defense Health Agency (DHA).*

### Payment Methods To remain enrolled, beneficiaries must pay their fees via: * **Allotment:** Deducted directly from military retirement pay (required if retirement pay is available). * **Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT):** For those not receiving retirement pay (e.g., some survivors or medically retired members). * **Credit/Debit Card:** Monthly or quarterly recurring payments.

### TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) Prime TRICARE Young Adult is a separate program for adult children aged 21–26. It does not follow the "Group A/B" fee structure. Instead, it charges a flat monthly premium. For **2026**, the TYA Prime monthly premium varies by plan year — check TRICARE.mil for current rates.

### Split Enrollment If a family has members in different regions (East and West), they only pay one family enrollment fee. This fee is paid to the regional contractor where the "head of household" or primary sponsor's enrollment resides.

## Who this affects * **Retirees and their families:** Must pay annual fees to maintain Prime coverage. * **Medically retired members and their families:** Group A or B rates apply. * **Survivors (unremarried spouses and children):** Applicable fees based on sponsor's group. * **Active Duty:** NOT affected (Always $0). * **Active Duty Family Members:** NOT affected (Always $0).

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Prime Enrollment Fees](https://www.tricare.mil/Costs/HealthPlanCosts/Prime/EnrollmentFees) * **Humana Military (East):** [Enrollment Costs](https://www.humanamilitary.com/beneficiary/plans-and-programs/tricare-prime) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** [Plan Costs and Fees](https://www.triwest.com/en/beneficiary/costs/) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [Cost Shares and Updates](https://health.mil/)