TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) Guide: Costs and Benefits

TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) Guide: Costs and Benefits

## Quick answer TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) is a premium-based health plan available to "gray area" retirees—National Guard and Reserve members who have qualified for retirement but are not yet age 60. It offers comprehensive coverage worldwide for a monthly premium until you reach age 60 and become eligible for TRICARE Select or TRICARE Prime.

## Details TRICARE Retired Reserve is the primary bridge for members of the Retired Reserve who are under age 60 and are not eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. Because these "gray area" retirees do not yet receive retired pay, they do not qualify for standard TRICARE retiree benefits. TRR fills that gap.

### How it Works TRR is a PPO-style plan. You can visit any TRICARE-authorized provider, though you will pay lower out-of-pocket costs if you use a provider within the TRICARE network. Unlike TRICARE Prime, you do not need a Primary Care Manager (PCM) or referrals for most specialty care.

### 2026 Costs and Premiums Because TRR is not subsidized by the government (meaning the member pays the full cost of the plan), the premiums are significantly higher than other TRICARE plans. * **Member Only:** Varies by plan year — check TRICARE.mil for current 2026 rates. * **Member + Family:** Varies by plan year — check TRICARE.mil for current 2026 rates.

In addition to monthly premiums, you are responsible for: * **Annual Deductibles:** You must meet a yearly deductible before TRICARE cost-sharing begins. * **Cost Shares:** A percentage of the allowed amount for covered services (e.g., 20% or 25% depending on whether the provider is in-network). * **Catastrophic Cap:** This limits your total out-of-pocket expenses for covered services each year.

### Coverage Transition at Age 60 When you turn 60 and begin receiving retired pay, you and your family become eligible for regular TRICARE retiree benefits (TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select). At this point, your TRR coverage ends, and you must take action to enroll in a retiree plan within 90 days of your 60th birthday to avoid a gap in coverage.

### Regional Management The plan is managed by regional contractors: * **East Region:** Humana Military. * **West Region:** TriWest Healthcare Alliance. * **Overseas:** International SOS. * **Pharmacy:** Benefits are managed by Express Scripts.

*Note: TRICARE.Com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program. For official policy and the most current rates, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Who this affects * **Retired Reserve members:** Those who have qualified for retirement but are under age 60. * **Family members:** Spouses and unmarried children of qualified Retired Reserve members. * **Survivors:** Surviving family members of deceased Retired Reserve members. * **Excluded:** Those eligible for or enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** TRICARE Retired Reserve overview (https://www.tricare.mil/trr) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** TRICARE Costs and Fees (https://www.tricare.mil/costs) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** West Region portal (https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military:** East Region portal (https://www.humanamilitary.com)