TRICARE T5 Contract Explained: 2026 Guide to Regions

The **T5 (TRICARE Fifth Generation)** contract is the current management framework for the TRICARE health system as of June 24, 2026. This multi-billion dollar shift consolidated management into two primary regions, replaced the West region contractor with TriWest Healthcare Alliance, and introduced new digital tools to improve how military families access care.

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program. For official policy and enrollment, visit [TRICARE.mil](https://www.tricare.mil).*

In detail

The T5 contract officially replaced the previous T-2017 (T4) contracts, with full implementation occurring on January 1, 2025. This transition governs how the Defense Health Agency (DHA) delivers the TRICARE benefit to approximately 9.6 million beneficiaries.

### Key Changes Under T5 * **West Region Contractor Change:** The most significant change was the transition from Health Net Federal Services (HNFS) to **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** as the West Region contractor. * **Consolidated Management:** While there are still two regions (East and West), the T5 framework streamlined back-end operations to allow for better "portability." This means if you move from Virginia to California, your records and authorizations should transfer more seamlessly between Humana Military and TriWest. * **Enhanced Virtual Care:** T5 mandates improved telehealth integration and digital patient portals to reduce the administrative burden on active-duty families and retirees. * **Network Stability:** T5 required contractors to maintain 85-90% of existing provider networks during the transition to prevent care disruptions.

### The Two-Region Structure (2026 Status) Under T5, the United States is divided into two geographic areas overseen by two primary contractors:

### 2026 Cost Context While the T5 contract manages the *delivery* of healthcare, the *costs* (copays, deductibles, premiums) are set annually by Congress. For 2026, costs remain tiered by **Group A** (Initial enlistment before Jan 1, 2018) and **Group B** (Initial enlistment after Jan 1, 2018). * **TRICARE Select (Group A Retirees):** Enrollment fees are approximately $190.50/individual or $381.00/family per year (2026 rates). * **Active Duty:** Still pay $0 out-of-pocket for all covered care under TRICARE Prime.

Who this applies to

* **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Impacts how referrals to civilian specialists are processed, particularly in the West region under TriWest. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Affects which civilian doctors are "in-network" and the digital tools used to track claims. * **Retirees and Families:** Affects enrollment fee payments and the provider networks for those using TRICARE Select or TRICARE Prime. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Affects the administration of TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) and the credentialing of local providers.

Common scenarios

### Scenario 1: Moving from East to West Chief Petty Officer Miller moves from Norfolk, VA (East - Humana Military) to San Diego, CA (West - TriWest). Under T5, the "transfer of enrollment" is designed to be automated. Miller logs into the Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) portal, updates his address, and TriWest immediately picks up his Prime enrollment without needing a new primary care manager (PCM) request to be mailed.

### Scenario 2: Seeking Specialty Care in the West A retiree in Arizona needs a knee replacement. Under the T5 contract, TriWest is required to provide a robust network of orthopedic surgeons. The retiree pays the standard 2026 TRICARE Select network copay (approximately $35-$50 depending on Group status) to a TriWest-contracted provider.

### Scenario 3: Using the New Digital Portal An Air Force spouse in Colorado uses the new TriWest T5 patient portal to track a referral. Instead of calling a representative, the spouse sees the authorized specialty care provider and the expiration date of the referral in real-time, a key performance requirement of the T5 contract.

Related terms

* **DHA (Defense Health Agency):** The government body that oversees the T5 contracts and all military medical care. * **T-5 (Fifth Generation):** The name of the current contract cycle following T1, T2, T3, and T-2017. * **Beneficiary Category:** The status (Group A or B) that determines your out-of-pocket costs. * **Portability:** The ability to move between TRICARE regions without a break in coverage or record access. * **Network Provider:** A civilian doctor who has a contract with Humana Military or TriWest to provide care at discounted rates.

Sources

* **TRICARE.mil:** [The T5 Strategy](https://www.tricare.mil) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [Contract Awards and Implementation](https://health.mil) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [West Region Transition Portal](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military:** [East Region Information](https://www.humanamilitary.com)