FAQ
What is TRICARE Open Season and when is it?
Direct answer: TRICARE Open Season is the fall window when you can change your TRICARE health plan for the next calendar year. For 2026 it runs November 9 to December 8, 2026, and changes you make take effect January 1, 2027.
Applies to: All TRICARE plans · All regions
Details
What it is
Each fall, TRICARE Open Season lets eligible beneficiaries enroll in, change, or drop a TRICARE health plan for the following year. Dates change every year, so the dates here are for the 2026 season and TRICARE posts the next ones on its Open Season page.
Who it applies to
- Applies to: beneficiaries who have or qualify for a TRICARE Prime option (including US Family Health Plan and the TRICARE Prime Demo) or TRICARE Select.
- Does not apply to: active-duty service members, TRICARE For Life beneficiaries, and people in TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve, or TRICARE Young Adult.
How to make a change
Use milConnect, call your regional contractor, or mail or fax an enrollment form to your regional contractor. The only deadline TRICARE states for the season is the last day of the window.
If you do nothing
If you are enrolled, you stay in your current plan as long as you remain eligible. If you are not enrolled in a plan, you are only eligible for care at a military hospital or clinic when space is available.
Dental and vision are separate
TRICARE dental and vision plans run through the Federal Benefits Open Season, managed by the Office of Personnel Management. For 2026 TRICARE lists it as November 9 to December 14, with changes effective January 1, 2027. Vision coverage requires a TRICARE health plan.
Outside Open Season
You can usually only change a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select outside the window after a qualifying life event, which opens a 90-day period. Plan prices are on TRICARE’s health plan cost comparison page.
What to do next
Confirm this with your Primary Care Manager or regional contractor before scheduling — rules can vary by region and by service.