TRICARE Cost Comparison: 2026 Rates & Fees Guide
*Disclosure: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program or part of the Department of Defense. For official policy and the most current data, visit TRICARE.mil.*
## Quick answer TRICARE costs depend primarily on your beneficiary status (Group A vs. Group B), your specific plan (Prime, Select, or Reserve Select), and the "sponsor's" military status (Active Duty vs. Retired). While Active Duty families usually pay $0 for in-network care, retirees and their families face annual deductibles and fixed copayments that increase slightly each calendar year.
In detail
Understanding TRICARE costs requires identifying your **Group**. * **Group A:** Sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment was before January 1, 2018. * **Group B:** Sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment was on or after January 1, 2018.
### 1. Annual Enrollment Fees (2026 Rates) Active duty service members (ADSMs) and active duty family members (ADFMs) pay $0 in enrollment fees for any plan. For retirees and others, the 2026 rates are:
| Plan Type | Group A (Retirees) | Group B (Retirees) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **TRICARE Prime (Individual)** | ~$380/year | ~$475/year | | **TRICARE Prime (Family)** | ~$760/year | ~$950/year | | **TRICARE Select (Individual)** | ~$189/year | ~$590/year | | **TRICARE Select (Family)** | ~$378/year | ~$1,180/year |
*Note: Group A Active Duty families pay $0 for Select enrollment. Reservists pay monthly premiums for TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS).*
### 2. Deductibles and Cost-Shares A **deductible** is what you pay out-of-pocket before TRICARE begins to pay. * **Prime:** Generally no deductible unless using the Point-of-Service (POS) option. * **Select (Group A):** ~$150 per individual / $300 per family for retirees. * **Select (Group B):** ~$235 per individual / $470 per family for retirees.
### 3. Out-of-Pocket Examples (2026 Estimates) Costs vary by the type of service provided: * **Primary Care Visit:** $0 for Prime; ~$37 for Select (Group A Retiree). * **Specialty Care Visit:** $0 for Prime; ~$50 for Select (Group A Retiree). * **Emergency Room:** ~$75–$150/visit for retirees; $0 for ADFMs on Prime. * **Pharmacy (Express Scripts):** Generic drugs are typically $16 at retail pharmacies (30-day supply) or $13 via home delivery (90-day supply).
### 4. The Catastrophic Cap This is the most you will pay for covered TRICARE services in a calendar year. Once you hit this limit, TRICARE pays 100% of the allowed amount for covered services. * **ADFMs:** ~$1,288/year. * **Retirees (Group A):** ~$4,399/year. * **Retirees (Group B):** ~$4,680/year.
## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Families:** Mostly concerned with costs if they choose TRICARE Select or use non-network providers without authorization. * **Retirees & Dependents:** Must manage annual enrollment fees and cost-shares for every doctor visit. * **National Guard & Reserve:** Must track monthly premium payments to maintain TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) or TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) coverage. * **Young Adults:** Children aged 21–26 on TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) pay significantly higher monthly premiums.
Common scenarios
### Scenario 1: The Active Duty Prime Family Sgt. Miller is stationed at Fort Cavazos. His wife and two children are enrolled in TRICARE Prime. They see their Primary Care Manager (PCM) and get referrals for specialists. * **Annual Enrollment Fee:** $0 * **Primary Care Copay:** $0 * **Prescriptions:** $0 (at Military Treatment Facility) * **Total Out-of-Pocket:** $0
### Scenario 2: The Retired Select Family (Group A) Major (Ret.) Smith uses TRICARE Select in the East Region (Humana Military). He prefers seeing a civilian doctor who is in the TRICARE network but not at a military base. * **Annual Enrollment Fee (2026):** ~$378 * **Annual Deductible:** $300 (Family) * **Office Visit Copay:** ~$37 per visit after deductible. * **Total Out-of-Pocket:** Varies by usage, but capped at ~$4,399.
### Scenario 3: The Reservist on TRS Staff Sgt. Jones is a "drilling" Reservist. He pays monthly premiums to Express Scripts/TriWest to cover his family under TRICARE Reserve Select. * **Monthly Premium:** Varies (roughly $50/month individual, $260/month family). * **Office Visits:** Small cost-share (approx. 15–20%) after meeting the deductible.
## Related terms * **Catastrophic Cap:** The maximum out-of-pocket amount you pay annually for covered services. * **Cost-Share:** The percentage of the total cost of a covered health care service you pay (common in TRICARE Select). * **Copayment:** A fixed dollar amount you pay for a covered health care service (common in TRICARE Prime). * **Point-of-Service (POS) Option:** An expensive fee incurred when a Prime member sees a doctor without a referral. * **Sponsor:** The active duty, retired, or Guard/Reserve member whose service earns the TRICARE benefit.
## Sources * **TRICARE.mil Cost Comparisons:** https://www.tricare.mil/costs/compare * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** https://health.mil/ * **Humana Military (East Region):** https://www.humanamilitary.com/ * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region):** https://www.triwest.com/