What Is TRICARE Open Season? 2026 Dates & Rules | TRICARE.com

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program or the Defense Health Agency. For official policy and enrollment, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer TRICARE Open Season is the annual period—typically from mid-November to mid-December—when most beneficiaries can enroll in or change their health insurance plan for the following year. Outside of this window, you can only change your coverage if you experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) like getting married, having a baby, or retiring.

Details

### Timing and 2026 Context For the 2026 plan year, Open Season is expected to run from November 10, 2025, through December 8, 2025. Changes made during this window take effect on **January 1, 2026**. If you are satisfied with your current TRICARE coverage, you do not need to take any action; your plan will automatically renew.

### Eligible Plan Changes During Open Season, you can make the following moves: * **Change Plans:** Switch from TRICARE Prime to TRICARE Select, or vice versa. * **Change Enrollment Type:** Move from individual coverage to family coverage. * **Enroll for the First Time:** If you are eligible for TRICARE but not currently enrolled in a plan (and are not Active Duty), you can sign up during this window.

### Plans Subject to Open Season Open Season applies primarily to: * TRICARE Prime (including US Family Health Plan) * TRICARE Select

**Note on Premium-Based Plans:** TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS), TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR), TRICARE Young Adult (TYA), and the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) do not follow the Open Season schedule. Beneficiaries can purchase these plans at any time throughout the year.

### The Federal Benefits Open Season (FEDVIP) Coinciding with TRICARE Open Season is the Federal Benefits Open Season. This is the only time eligible beneficiaries (primarily retirees and their families) can enroll in or change their **FEDVIP dental and vision insurance** through BENEFEDS. While TRICARE manages health insurance, dental and vision for many are handled through this separate federal program.

### What Happens if You Miss the Deadline? If you miss the Open Season deadline, you are locked into your current plan (or no plan) for the remainder of 2026. The only exception is a **Qualifying Life Event (QLE)**. Common QLEs include: * Moving to a new zip code. * Marriage, divorce, or legal separation. * Birth or adoption of a child. * Loss of other health insurance. * Retiring from active duty.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Family Members:** Can switch between Prime and Select. * **Retirees and their families:** Can switch plans and enroll in FEDVIP dental/vision. * **Active Duty Service Members:** Not eligible to switch (must remain in TRICARE Prime), but their family members are affected. * **Survivors:** Eligible to change plans based on their current status. * **Note:** Does NOT affect those using TRICARE For Life (TFL), as TFL is automatic once you have Medicare Parts A and B.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Open Season Overview](https://www.tricare.mil/openseason) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [Qualifying Life Events](https://www.tricare.mil/lifeevents) * **BENEFEDS:** [FEDVIP Enrollment](https://www.benefeds.com) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region):** [Enrollment Information](https://www.triwest.com)