What TRICARE coverage do National Guard and Reserve members get?

Direct answer: It depends on your duty status. On duty for less than 30 days you have Line of Duty Care and can buy TRICARE Reserve Select. While activated you have active duty benefits with no out-of-pocket costs. After deactivating you may have Transitional Assistance Management Program coverage and can buy TRICARE Reserve Select if you qualify.

Applies to: All TRICARE plans · All regions

Details

By duty status

TRICARE’s National Guard and Reserve page sorts coverage by what you are doing:

• On military duty for less than 30 days: Line of Duty Care and TRICARE Reserve Select.
• Activated: active duty benefits. TRICARE says you have no out-of-pocket costs on active duty.
• Deactivated: Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) coverage and TRICARE Reserve Select. What applies to you depends on the kind of activation you served; see what happens when you deactivate.

TRICARE’s coverage scenarios page walks through the cases in more detail.

Dental and pharmacy

• On active duty you qualify for active duty dental benefits. When you are not on active duty, you can buy the TRICARE Dental Program.
• You are eligible for the TRICARE pharmacy benefit while enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select, on active duty orders, or covered by TAMP.

Costs

TRICARE Reserve Select is a premium-based plan: you pay monthly premiums and cost-shares. We do not list amounts here; TRICARE’s Reserve Select cost page has the current ones.

Family members

Spouses and children are covered when you are, as long as they are registered as dependents in DEERS. Family members do not qualify for Line of Duty Care.

TRICARE’s page for National Guard and Reserve members is the official starting point.

What to do next

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