TRICARE Reserve Activation Guide: 2026 Checklist & Rates | TRICARE.com

When a member of the National Guard or Reserve is called to active duty for more than 30 consecutive days, their TRICARE status changes from a premium-based plan (like TRICARE Reserve Select) to active duty benefits. This transition ensures the service member has no out-of-pocket costs and provides their family with comprehensive coverage, typically under TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select.

*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](https://www.tricare.mil).*

## What changes Upon activation for more than 30 days, you (the service member) become "Active Duty Service Member" (ADSM) status and are automatically covered by TRICARE Prime at your duty station. Your eligible family members become "Active Duty Family Members" (ADFM), making them eligible for TRICARE Prime (if in a Prime Service Area) or TRICARE Select with $0 deductibles and $0 copayments for covered services from network providers.

## What to do — checklist 1. **Verify DEERS Status (Immediately):** Ensure your activation orders are reflected in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Your unit personnel office usually handles this, but you must verify it via [milConnect](https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/). 2. **Discontinue TRICARE Reserve Select (Within 30 days):** If you were paying for TRS, your coverage should automatically terminate the day your active duty orders begin. Check with your regional contractor (Humana Military in the East; TriWest in the West) to ensure premiums stop and to request a refund for any overpaid months. 3. **Choose a Plan for Family (Within 90 days):** Your family members are automatically shifted to TRICARE Select. If you want them in TRICARE Prime, you must actively enroll them via the [milConnect](https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/) website or by calling your regional contractor. 4. **Update Primary Care Manager (Day 1 of Activation):** As an ADSM, you must be assigned a Primary Care Manager (PCM), usually at a Military Medical Treatment Facility (MTF). Follow unit instructions for your initial "check-in" screening. 5. **Dental Plan Enrollment (Within 30 days):** Service members receive dental care at military clinics. Family members should remain in or enroll in the TRICARE Dental Program (administered by United Concordia) to maintain coverage during the activation. 6. **Review Pharmacy Options (Immediately):** Switch family maintenance medications to Express Scripts Pharmacy home delivery or a military pharmacy to take advantage of $0 copays available to active duty families.

## Timeline | Timeframe | Action Required | | :--- | :--- | | **Pre-Activation** | Ensure all family members have current ID cards and are listed correctly in DEERS. | | **Day 0** | Activation begins. ADSM coverage shifts to TRICARE Prime automatically. | | **Day 1–7** | Verify DEERS reflects "Active Duty" status. TRS premiums should cease. | | **Day 30** | Deadline to ensure family members are enrolled in the desired program (Prime vs. Select). | | **Ongoing** | Use TRICARE Prime (ADSM) and Prime/Select (Family) for duration of orders. | | **Deactivation** | Coverage transitions to TAMP (if eligible) or returns to TRS eligibility. |

## Common pitfalls * **Assuming Family Coverage is Automatic:** While family members are automatically eligible for TRICARE Select, they are **not** automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime. If you want them in Prime, you must submit an enrollment move. * **Ignoring DEERS Errors:** If DEERS shows you are still on "Reserve" status after Day 1, claims will be denied or you may be billed for TRS premiums. You must contact your unit's personnel office (RSC/G-1) to fix the personnel data feed. * **Seeking Care without Referrals:** Once activated, the service member **must** have a referral for any care received outside of a military clinic. Seeking "urgent care" on your own as an ADSM usually results in a denied claim. * **Forgetting the Dental Shift:** TRICARE health plans do not include dental for families. If you don’t manually maintain the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) enrollment, your family will have no dental coverage during your activation.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Coming on Active Duty](https://www.tricare.mil/LifeEvents/Activate) * **milConnect:** [DEERS Management](https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [West Region Transitions](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military:** [East Region Activation Guide](https://www.humanamilitary.com)