TRICARE Enrollment Fee: 2026 Costs and Rules
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## Quick answer Active duty service members and their families pay **$0** in enrollment fees for any TRICARE plan. Most retirees and their families must pay an annual enrollment fee for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select, with costs currently ranging from approximately $330 to $700 per year for families, depending on when you joined the military.
Details
TRICARE enrollment fees are primarily determined by two factors: your **beneficiary category** (Group A vs. Group B) and your **plan type**.
### Group A vs. Group B * **Group A:** You or your sponsor's initial enlistment or appointment occurred **before January 1, 2018**. * **Group B:** You or your sponsor's initial enlistment or appointment occurred **on or after January 1, 2018**.
### TRICARE Prime Enrollment Fees (2026 Rates) Active duty service members (ADSMs) and active duty family members (ADFMs) pay **no enrollment fees** for TRICARE Prime.
For retirees, their families, and others: * **Group A Retirees:** Roughly $380 per individual / $760 per family (2026 estimate; varies slightly by annual COLA adjustments). * **Group B Retirees:** Roughly $530 per individual / $1,060 per family (2026 estimate).
### TRICARE Select Enrollment Fees (2026 Rates) TRICARE Select is a PPO-style plan. While it used to be free for Group A retirees, a statutory change now requires an annual fee. * **ADFMs:** No enrollment fee. * **Group A Retirees:** Roughly $190 per individual / $380 per family (2026 estimate). * **Group B Retirees:** Roughly $600 per individual / $1,200 per family (2026 estimate).
### Premium-Based Plans (Monthly Premiums) Some beneficiaries "purchase" TRICARE coverage through monthly premiums rather than annual enrollment fees. These rates are updated annually by the Defense Health Agency (DHA): * **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS):** Monthly premiums apply for Selected Reserve members. * **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR):** Higher monthly premiums apply for gray-area retirees. * **TRICARE Young Adult (TYA):** Monthly premiums for adult children up to age 26. * **TRICARE For Life (TFL):** No TRICARE enrollment fee, but you must pay **Medicare Part B monthly premiums** to remain eligible.
### How to Pay Enrollment fees are typically paid via allotment from military retired pay. If retired pay is insufficient, you must pay via electronic funds transfer (EFT) or a recurring credit/debit card payment through your regional contractor (**Humana Military** in the East or **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** in the West).
## Who this affects * **Retirees and their families:** Most must pay an annual fee for Prime or Select. * **Active Duty Family Members:** Typically $0, unless using a premium-based plan like TRICARE Young Adult. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Affects those using TRS or TRR (monthly premiums). * **Survivors:** Generally follow the same fee structure as retirees, though some "Transitional Survivors" may have fees waived for a period.
## Sources 1. TRICARE.mil - Costs: https://www.tricare.mil/costs 2. Defense Health Agency (DHA) - 2026 Rate Updates: https://health.mil 3. Humana Military (East Region): https://www.humanamilitary.com 4. TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region): https://www.triwest.com