Selected Reserve: TRICARE Eligibility Explained | TRICARE.com

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## Definition The Selected Reserve is a specific category of the Ready Reserve consisting of military units and individual personnel (IMAs) who are considered highest priority and are required to perform regular training and drills.

## What it means in practice For TRICARE beneficiaries, being in the Selected Reserve is the "golden ticket" to eligibility for **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)**. While the broader Ready Reserve includes the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), those in the IRR are generally not eligible for TRICARE coverage unless they are on active duty orders for more than 30 days. Members of the Selected Reserve, however, can purchase TRS for themselves and their families as long as they are not eligible for or enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program.

In 2026, membership in the Selected Reserve allows a service member to maintain comprehensive health coverage even while in a part-time civilian status. As of early 2026, the monthly premiums for TRICARE Reserve Select are approximately $51.95 for an individual and $257.73 for a family (note: rates are adjusted annually; check TRICARE.mil for the most current figures). This coverage remains active as long as the member maintains their "Selected Reserve" status in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

If a member of the Selected Reserve is "activated"—meaning they are called to federal active duty for more than 30 days—their status effectively shifts for TRICARE purposes. They move from the premium-based TRS plan to the same premium-free TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select benefits enjoyed by active-duty service members. Their family members also become eligible for active-duty family member (ADFM) benefits, which usually involve lower out-of-pocket costs than TRS.

It is critical for members to monitor their status in DEERS. If a service member transfers from the Selected Reserve to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) or is discharged, their eligibility for TRS typically ends on the day of the status change. The only exception is if they qualify for the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP), which provides 180 days of premium-free coverage following certain deployment or contingency operations.

## Related terms * **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS):** A premium-based health plan available for purchase by qualified members of the Selected Reserve. * **Individual Ready Reserve (IRR):** A category of the Ready Reserve generally consisting of those who have finished their active duty but still have a military service obligation; these members are usually ineligible for TRICARE. * **DEERS:** The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System; the database used to verify TRICARE eligibility based on a member's current military duty status. * **Active Duty:** Full-time duty in the active military service of the United States, which changes a Reservist's TRICARE plan from TRS to Prime or Select. * **T-5 Contract:** The fifth generation of TRICARE managed care contracts, currently managed by Humana Military (East) and TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West).

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil - Information for National Guard and Reserve Members:** [https://www.tricARE.mil/Plans/Eligibility/NGR](https://www.tricARE.mil/Plans/Eligibility/NGR) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [https://health.mil/](https://health.mil/) * **TRICARE Reserve Select Costs:** [https://www.tricare.mil/Costs/HealthPlanCosts/TRS](https://www.tricare.mil/Costs/HealthPlanCosts/TRS)