TRICARE Wellness Visit: Coverage & 2026 Costs | TRICARE.com

## Quick answer TRICARE covers annual wellness exams and preventive screenings at no cost to the patient, provided you use an in-network provider. These visits focus on health promotion and disease prevention rather than diagnosing or treating specific symptoms.

## Details TRICARE does not generally use the term "physical" for adults unless it is for clinical preventive services or required for school/work. Instead, the benefit is categorized by age, gender, and plan type.

### Wellness Exams for Adults (Ages 6+) For non-active duty beneficiaries, TRICARE covers an annual preventive clinical visit. As of the **2026 plan year**, the following rules apply: * **TRICARE Prime:** Your primary care manager (PCM) handles these visits. There is **$0 copay** and no deductible for preventive services. * **TRICARE Select:** There is **$0 copay** for preventive services when using a network provider. However, if you see an out-of-network provider, you may be subject to deductibles and cost-shares. * **Excluded Services:** If you discuss a new or chronic medical issue (e.g., "my knee has been hurting for a week") during your wellness visit, the doctor may bill the visit as a diagnostic "office visit" instead of a "wellness exam." This could trigger a copay.

### Well-Child Care (Birth to Age 6) TRICARE covers comprehensive well-child exams from birth through age 5. This includes: * Physical exams and measurements. * Immunizations (per CDC guidelines). * Vision and hearing screenings. * Developmental and behavioral assessments.

### Clinical Preventive Services Included During a wellness visit, TRICARE covers specific screenings based on age and risk factors at a $0 cost-share (2026 rates): * **Cancer Screenings:** Mammograms, Pap smears, colonoscopies, and prostate exams. * **Cardiovascular:** Blood pressure and cholesterol screenings. * **Infectious Disease:** Screenings for HIV, Hepatitis, and STIs for those at increased risk. * **Behavioral Health:** Annual depression and alcohol misuse screenings.

### Active Duty Personnel Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs) do not schedule "wellness visits" in the same way. They must complete a **Periodic Health Assessment (PHA)** annually to maintain medical readiness. These are coordinated through their unit and military medical facilities.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Family Members:** Covered at 100% when using network providers. * **Retirees and their Families:** Covered at 100% when using network providers. * **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS):** Benefits apply. * **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR):** Benefits apply. * **TRICARE Young Adult (TYA):** Benefits apply.

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*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program. For official policy and the most current coverage updates, please visit [TRICARE.mil](https://www.tricare.mil).*

## Sources 1. TRICARE.mil: Health Wellness and Preventive Care [https://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/IsItCovered/PreventiveServices] 2. Humana Military (East Region): Preventive Care Services [https://www.humanamilitary.com/beneficiary/health-and-wellness/preventive-care] 3. TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region): Preventive Services [https://www.triwest.com] 4. Defense Health Agency: Well-Child Care Guidelines [https://health.mil]