How do I switch from TRICARE Prime to TRICARE Select?

Direct answer: Change your enrollment through milConnect (fastest), by phone with your regional contractor, or by mail — but you can only make the switch during TRICARE Open Season or after a Qualifying Life Event, unless you're already eligible to switch freely.

Applies to: All TRICARE plans · All regions

Details

Open Season runs once a year, with changes taking effect January 1. Outside of Open Season, a Qualifying Life Event — marriage, birth of a child, a PCS move, or retirement from active duty — opens a window to change plans. One practical upside: when you move from a Prime option to Select, you don’t need to choose a PCM.

What to do next

Confirm this with your Primary Care Manager or regional contractor before scheduling — rules can vary by region and by service.