How to Enroll in TRICARE: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide
*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not official government property. For official policy and the most current directives, visit TRICARE.mil.*
## Quick answer To enroll in TRICARE, you must first be registered in the **Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)**. Once your eligibility is confirmed, you can enroll online via the MilConnect website, via phone with your regional contractor (Humana Military in the East or TriWest in the West), or by mailing a paper enrollment form.
Details
### 1. The Gateway: Update DEERS First Before you can select a plan, the Department of Defense must recognize you as eligible. Active duty members are enrolled automatically, but family members and retirees must be manually added to DEERS by the sponsor. If your information (address, marital status, or child’s birth) is outdated in DEERS, you cannot enroll in or change a TRICARE plan.
### 2. Enrollment Windows You cannot enroll in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select at any time. You must wait for one of two opportunities: * **Open Season:** This occurs annually from mid-November to mid-December. Changes made then take effect on January 1 of the following year. * **Qualifying Life Events (QLEs):** If you experience a QLE—such as getting married, having a baby, retiring from active duty, or moving—you have **90 days** from the date of the event to enroll or change plans.
### 3. Methods of Enrollment There are three primary ways to submit your enrollment request: * **Online:** Use the [Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE)](https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/) portal on the MilConnect website. * **Phone:** * **East Region (Humana Military):** 1-800-444-5445 * **West Region (TriWest Healthcare Alliance):** 1-888-TRIWEST (1-888-874-9378) * **Overseas (International SOS):** Contact your [Regional Call Center](https://www.tricare-overseas.com/contact-us). * **Mail:** Download the specific enrollment form for your plan (e.g., DD Form 2876 for TRICARE Prime) from the contractor's website and mail it to the address listed on the form.
### 4. Costs and Premiums While enrollment itself is free for active duty families, certain plans require monthly premiums. For 2026, costs vary based on your "Group" (Group A joined before Jan 1, 2018; Group B joined after). * **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS):** Requires monthly premium payments to start coverage. * **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR):** Higher monthly premiums for non-regular retirees. * **TRICARE Young Adult:** Requires a separate application and monthly premiums.
### 5. Transitioning from Active Duty When you retire, your active duty TRICARE coverage ends. To avoid a gap in coverage, you must proactively enroll in a retiree plan (Prime or Select) within 90 days of your retirement date. If you miss this window, you may only be eligible for care in a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) on a space-available basis until the next Open Season.
## Who this affects * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFM):** Must enroll in Prime or Select to receive off-base care. * **Retirees and their Families:** Must take action to enroll in a retiree plan upon leaving service. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Must enroll in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) if eligible. * **Young Adult Dependents:** Must specifically apply for TRICARE Young Adult once they turn 21 (or 23 if a full-time student).
## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Enrollment Page](https://www.tricare.mil/enroll) * **Humana Military (East):** [Enrollment Instructions](https://www.humanamilitary.com/beneficiary/enrollment) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** [Plan Registration](https://www.triwest.com/) * **MilConnect/DEERS:** [Beneficiary Web Enrollment](https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/)