What is a TRICARE Group B Retiree? Definition & Costs | TRICARE.com

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## Definition A Group B retiree is a military member who first entered initial enlistment or appointment in a uniformed service on or after January 1, 2018.

## What it means in practice For TRICARE beneficiaries, your "Group" status (A or B) is the primary factor determining your out-of-pocket costs, including enrollment fees and copayments. If you joined the military on or after January 1, 2018, you are automatically in Group B. This group generally faces higher out-of-pocket costs than Group A (those who joined before 2018), as Group B was established alongside the "Blended Retirement System" (BRS) to reflect a more modern, tiered cost-sharing structure.

In practice, being a Group B retiree means you will pay an annual enrollment fee for plans like TRICARE Select, whereas some Group A retirees may have lower or grandfathered rates. For example, in the 2026 plan year, Group B retirees typically face a higher catastrophic cap—the maximum amount a family pays out-of-pocket per year—compared to their Group A counterparts.

The distinction is most visible during retirement. While active-duty service members in Group B do not pay premiums for TRICARE Prime, once they retire, their "Group B" status triggers specific cost-shares for doctor visits, emergency room care, and pharmacy prescriptions that are updated annually by the Defense Health Agency (DHA). For 2026, a Group B retiree using TRICARE Select will have a fixed deductible and set copayments for network care, which are often higher than the "cents on the dollar" structure used for older retirees.

It is important to note that your group is tied to your original enlistment date, not your retirement date. Even if you retire in 2040, if you joined in 2017, you remain Group A; if you joined in 2018, you are Group B.

## Related terms * **Group A:** Beneficiaries who first joined the uniformed services before January 1, 2018. * **Catastrophic Cap:** The maximum out-of-pocket amount a beneficiary pays for TRICARE-covered services each calendar year. * **TRICARE Select:** A self-managed, preferred provider organization (PPO) plan available to Group B retirees that requires annual enrollment fees. * **Blended Retirement System (BRS):** The modern military retirement system that coincided with the creation of Group B cost-sharing. * **Enrollment Fee:** The annual cost a retiree must pay to maintain TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select coverage.

## Sources * TRICARE.mil: Cost Terms (https://www.tricare.mil/Costs/Cost-Terms) * Defense Health Agency: TRICARE Plans and Costs (https://health.mil) * TriWest Healthcare Alliance: West Region Beneficiary Costs (https://www.triwest.com)