What is Active Duty? TRICARE Glossary & Benefits Guide | TRICARE.com

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## Definition Active Duty refers to full-time service in a branch of the United States military, including those on full-time training duty or attending a service academy.

## What it means in practice For TRICARE beneficiaries, Active Duty status is the "golden ticket" of military healthcare. When a service member is on Active Duty, they are legally required to be enrolled in TRICARE Prime. This means they have $0 out-of-pocket costs for all covered medical services including office visits, surgeries, and prescriptions. While Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs) have no choice but to use Prime, their family members have the option to choose between TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select.

Under the current 2026 rates, Active Duty family members (ADFMs) enrolled in TRICARE Prime pay $0 for covered services when using military hospitals or network providers with a referral. If an ADFM chooses TRICARE Select, they are responsible for an annual deductible (which varies based on the sponsor's pay grade) and cost-shares (typically a small fixed fee or percentage) for outpatient visits. However, ADFMs do not pay an annual enrollment fee for either plan.

Active Duty status also dictates the "Priority of Care" at Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs). Active Duty Service Members have the highest priority (Priority 1), followed by their family members enrolled in TRICARE Prime (Priority 2). This ensures that those currently serving are medically ready for deployment and that their families receive care as quickly as possible.

Status changes from Active Duty to "Retired" or "Separated" trigger a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). Because the benefit structures and costs change significantly—moving from $0 premiums to potentially thousands of dollars in annual enrollment fees for retirees—it is critical for members to update their status in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) immediately upon any change in duty status.

## Related terms * **ADSM (Active Duty Service Member):** The person currently serving full-time in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, or Commissioned Corps of the NOAA/USPHS. * **ADFM (Active Duty Family Member):** The spouse or eligible child of a service member who is currently on active duty. * **DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System):** The global database that tracks eligibility for TRICARE benefits based on military status. * **TRICARE Prime:** A managed care option (similar to an HMO) required for ADSMs and available to ADFMs with $0 out-of-pocket costs at MTFs. * **Qualifying Life Event (QLE):** A change in status, such as activating for duty or separating from service, that allows you to change your TRICARE plan outside of open enrollment.

## Sources * TRICARE.mil: Eligibility for Active Duty Service Members (https://www.tricare.mil/Eligibility/WhoIsEligible/ADSMs) * Defense Health Agency: TRICARE Plans and Costs (https://www.tricare.mil/Costs) * TriWest Healthcare Alliance: West Region Provider Portal (https://www.triwest.com)