TRICARE Open Season: 2026 Dates and Enrollment Guide | TRICARE.com
Learn how TRICARE Open Season works for 2026, including enrollment dates, plan options for Prime and Select, and how to change your military health coverage.
TRICARE Open Season: 2026 Dates and Enrollment Guide
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## Quick answer TRICARE Open Season is an annual period, usually from mid-November to mid-December, when you can enroll in or change your TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select health plan for the following year. If you miss this window, you generally cannot change your plan until the next Open Season unless you experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE), such as getting married, having a child, or retiring.
## In detail TRICARE Open Season occurs annually during the autumn months. For the 2026 plan year, enrollment decisions made during the late 2025 Open Season go into effect on January 1, 2026.
During Open Season, eligible beneficiaries have three choices: 1. **Stay in their current plan:** If you are happy with your coverage, you do not need to take any action. Your coverage will continue as long as you remain eligible. 2. **Enroll in a new plan:** If you are eligible for TRICARE but not currently enrolled, you can sign up for a plan. 3. **Change plans:** You can switch between TRICARE Prime (a managed care option) and TRICARE Select (a PPO-style option).
### Key Differences Between TRICARE Prime and Select (2026) | Feature | TRICARE Prime | TRICARE Select | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Network** | Military hospitals & clinics; primary care manager (PCM) | Any TRICARE-authorized provider | | **Referrals** | Required for specialty care | Not required | | **Enrollment Fees** | $391.50/individual or $783/family (Group A, 2026 Retired) | $183.96/individual or $367.92/family (Group A, 2026 Retired) | | **Out-of-pocket costs** | Lower (copays apply for retirees) | Higher (deductibles and cost-shares apply) |
### Regional Contractors When making changes, your plan will be managed by a specific regional contractor: * **TRICARE East:** Humana Military. * **TRICARE West:** TriWest Healthcare Alliance (as of the T-5 contract transition). * **Pharmacy:** Express Scripts.
### Federal Benefits Open Season (FEDVIP) Coinciding with TRICARE Open Season is the Federal Benefits Open Season. This is the only time TRICARE-eligible retirees and their families can enroll in or change **FEDVIP dental and vision plans**. This is managed through BENEFEDS, not TRICARE.
## Who this applies to Open Season applies to most TRICARE beneficiaries, but there are notable exceptions: * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Always enrolled in TRICARE Prime; Open Season does not apply. * **Active Duty Family Members:** Can switch between Prime and Select. * **Retirees and their families:** Can switch between Prime and Select or enroll in FEDVIP. * **Premium-Based Plans:** Open Season **does not** apply to TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS), TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR), TRICARE Young Adult (TYA), or the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP). You can purchase these plans at any time during the year. * **TRICARE For Life:** Coverage is automatic once you have Medicare Parts A and B; Open Season does not apply.
Common scenarios
### Scenario 1: The New Retiree John retired from the Army in 2025. During the 2025 Open Season (for 2026 coverage), he decides his family wants more flexibility. He switches from TRICARE Prime to TRICARE Select. For 2026, he will pay a monthly enrollment fee of approximately $15.33 (individual) and will no longer need referrals for his specialist appointments.
### Scenario 2: The Dental Addition Sarah is a retiree spouse. During the 2025 FEDVIP Open Season, she realizes her family needs dental coverage. She goes to the BENEFEDS website and enrolls in a Delta Dental high-option plan. Her new dental coverage begins on January 1, 2026.
### Scenario 3: The Missed Window Mike misses the December deadline for Open Season. In March 2026, he decides he wants to switch to Prime. Because he did not have a Qualifying Life Event (like a move or a birth), he must wait until the next Open Season in late 2026 to change his plan for 2027.
## Related terms * **Qualifying Life Event (QLE):** A certain life change (marriage, birth, move, retirement) that opens a 90-day window to change TRICARE plans outside of Open Season. * **Group A:** Beneficiaries whose sponsor's initial enlistment or appointment was before January 1, 2018. * **Group B:** Beneficiaries whose sponsor's initial enlistment or appointment was on or after January 1, 2018. * **Catastrophic Cap:** The maximum amount you will pay out-of-pocket for covered services each calendar year. * **BENEFEDS:** The secure online portal used to enroll in FEDVIP dental and vision insurance.
## Sources * TRICARE.mil: [Open Season Information](https://www.tricare.mil/openseason) * Defense Health Agency (DHA): [Plan Costs and Fees](https://www.tricare.mil/costs) * BENEFEDS (for Dental/Vision): [BENEFEDS.com](https://www.benefeds.com) * TriWest Healthcare Alliance: [West Region Info](https://www.triwest.com)