TRICARE Select: 2026 Guide to Costs & Coverage | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer TRICARE Select is a self-managed, preferred provider organization (PPO) plan that offers the most flexibility for military families. Unlike TRICARE Prime, you do not need a primary care manager (PCM) or referrals for specialists, but you will pay higher out-of-pocket costs, including annual deductibles and per-visit copayments.

In detail

TRICARE Select replaced the old "TRICARE Standard" and "Extra" programs in 2018. It is designed for beneficiaries who want to choose their own doctors and don't mind paying more for the freedom to skip the referral process.

### How it Works With TRICARE Select, you are responsible for managing your own health care. You can see any provider you choose, but you save significantly more money if you see a **TRICARE-authorized network provider**. If you see a non-network provider, your out-of-pocket costs will be higher, and you may have to file your own claims.

### The Two Groups (Cost Categories) Your costs are determined by when the sponsor joined the military: * **Group A:** Sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment was **before** Jan. 1, 2018. * **Group B:** Sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment was **on or after** Jan. 1, 2018.

### 2026 Cost Structure (Estimated/Approximate) * **Enrollment Fees:** Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs) pay $0. Retirees in Group A pay an annual enrollment fee (roughly $380/individual or $760/family for 2026). * **Deductibles:** You must meet an annual deductible before TRICARE begins to pay. For 2026, this varies by rank and Group (typically $60–$182 for ADFMs; higher for retirees). * **Catastrophic Cap:** This is the most you will pay out of packet per year for covered services. For Group A retirees in 2026, this is approximately $4,300+; for ADFMs, it is lower.

### Comparison: TRICARE Select vs. TRICARE Prime | Feature | TRICARE Select | TRICARE Prime | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Referrals** | Not required for most services | Required for all specialists | | **Provider Choice** | Any TRICARE-authorized provider | Assigned Primary Care Manager (PCM) | | **Cost** | Higher (copays and deductibles) | Lower (mostly $0 for ADFMs) | | **Flexibility** | High | Low |

### Regional Management As of April 2026, TRICARE Select is administered by two main contractors: * **TRICARE East:** Managed by Humana Military. * **TRICARE West:** Managed by TriWest Healthcare Alliance (under the T-5 contract).

## Who this applies to TRICARE Select is generally available to the following groups living in the United States: * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Spouses and children of service members on active duty. * **Retired Service Members and their families:** Those who have officially retired from active duty. * **Medal of Honor recipients and their families:** Eligible for Select coverage. * **Survivors:** Spouses and children of deceased service members. * *Note: Active duty service members themselves cannot use TRICARE Select; they must be enrolled in TRICARE Prime.*

Common scenarios

### Scenario 1: The Specialist Visit Sarah is an ADFM in Group A living in the East Region. She needs to see a dermatologist for a skin check. Under TRICARE Select, she does not go to her doctor for a referral; she simply calls a network dermatologist and makes an appointment. For 2026, her network copay might be approximately $30–$40 after her deductible is met.

### Scenario 2: The Non-Network Provider John is a military retiree in the West Region. He chooses to see a physical therapist who is "authorized" but not in the TriWest network. John will likely pay a 25% cost-share of the TRICARE-allowable amount, which is significantly more than the flat copay he would pay at a network provider.

### Scenario 3: The Group B Retiree Marcus joined the Army in 2019 and recently retired. As a Group B beneficiary, his 2026 annual enrollment fees and deductibles are higher than those of a Group A retiree, reflecting the different tier structure for those who joined after the 2018 policy change.

## Related terms * **Catastrophic Cap:** The maximum out-of-pocket amount you pay each calendar year for TRICARE-covered services. * **Cost-Share:** The percentage of the total cost of a covered health care service you pay (common in TRICARE Select). * **Network Provider:** A doctor or facility that has a contract with Humana Military or TriWest to provide services at a negotiated rate. * **Non-Network Provider:** A provider who is authorized to see TRICARE patients but does not have a formal contract with the regional manager. * **TRICARE-Authorized Provider:** A provider that meets TRICARE's licensing and certification requirements; TRICARE will only pay for care from these providers.

## Sources * TRICARE.mil: TRICARE Select Overview (https://www.tricare.mil/select) * Humana Military (East Region): (https://www.humanamilitary.com/) * TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region): (https://www.triwest.com/) * Defense Health Agency: (https://health.mil/)