TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) Options & 2026 Costs
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## Quick answer TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) is a premium-based health plan available to "Gray Area" retirees—National Guard and Reserve members who have retired but are not yet age 60. It offers comprehensive coverage for the retiree and their family until the member reaches age 60 and becomes eligible for TRICARE Select or Prime.
Details
TRICARE Retired Reserve is specifically designed for the gap between military retirement and the start of pension payments at age 60. Unlike active-duty retirees, who receive subsidized care, TRR members pay the full cost of the premium because the government does not subsidize this plan.
### 2026 Premium Rates Because TRR is a premium-based plan, you must pay monthly member premiums to maintain coverage. For the 2026 plan year, these rates typically adjust annually: * **Member only:** varies by plan year — check TRICARE.mil for current rates. * **Member and Family:** varies by plan year — check TRICARE.mil for current rates.
### How Coverage Works TRR functions similarly to **TRICARE Select**. It is a PPO-style plan where you have the flexibility to see any TRICARE-authorized provider. * **No Referrals:** You do not need a referral for most specialty care. * **Network vs. Non-Network:** You will save money by using providers in the TRICARE network (managed by **Humana Military** in the East and **TriWest** in the West). * **Deductibles and Cost-Shares:** You are responsible for an annual deductible and a percentage of the cost for office visits, imaging, and procedures (cost-shares).
### Pharmacy Benefits TRR includes the full TRICARE Pharmacy Program managed by **Express Scripts**. You can fill prescriptions via military pharmacies (at no cost), through Home Delivery, or at retail network pharmacies.
### The "Age 60" Transition Coverage under TRR ends automatically when the retiree turns 60. At that point, the member becomes eligible for the same TRICARE benefits as other retirees (Select or Prime) and their premiums drop significantly because the government begins subsidizing the cost. If the retiree is receiving a pension early due to "reduced age retirement" legislation, they still generally remain on TRR until age 60 for healthcare purposes.
### Enrollment Process To enroll, you must first be listed as "Retired Reserve" in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Once updated, you can enroll via the Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) portal or by contacting your regional contractor: * **East Region:** Humana Military * **West Region:** TriWest Healthcare Alliance
## Who this affects * **Gray Area Retirees:** Members of the National Guard or Reserve who have completed 20 years of service but have not yet reached age 60. * **Family Members:** Spouses and children of qualified Retired Reserve members. * **Survivors:** If a Retired Reserve sponsor dies, their family members may remain eligible for TRR coverage until the date the sponsor would have turned 60.
## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** TRICARE Retired Reserve Overview (https://www.tricare.mil/trr) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** TRICARE Plan Costs (https://www.tricare.mil/costs) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** West Region Portal (https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military:** East Region Portal (https://www.humanamilitary.com)