TRICARE Healthcare Enrollment Guide 2026

## Quick answer To get healthcare coverage through TRICARE, you must first be registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and then actively enroll in a specific plan like TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select. For most beneficiaries, enrollment only happens during the annual Open Season (typically November to December) or within 90 days of a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) like marriage, birth, or retirement.

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program. For official policy and government records, visit TRICARE.mil.*

In detail

TRICARE enrollment is not automatic for most non-active duty beneficiaries. While active duty service members are automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime, family members and retirees must take action to select and maintain their coverage.

### The Two-Step Process 1. **DEERS Registration:** The sponsor (the service member) must register all eligible family members in DEERS. If you aren't in DEERS, you don't exist in the TRICARE system. 2. **Plan Enrollment:** Once in DEERS, you must choose a plan. You can enroll online via the Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) portal, by phone through your regional contractor, or by mailing an enrollment form.

### Enrollment Timelines Enrollment is governed by strict timing rules to prevent people from only signing up when they are sick.

* **Open Season:** This occurs annually from the Monday of the second full week in November to the Monday of the second full week in December. Changes made during Open Season take effect on January 1 of the following year. * **Qualifying Life Events (QLEs):** Outside of Open Season, you can only change or start enrollment if you experience a QLE. Common QLEs include: * Marriage or divorce. * Birth or adoption of a child. * Moving to a new zip code. * Retiring from active duty. * Loss of other health insurance. * **The 90-Day Rule:** You typically have 90 days from the date of a QLE to update your enrollment in DEERS and submit a new plan request.

### Regional Contractors (As of 2026) Your enrollment is managed by a regional contractor based on where you live: * **East Region:** Humana Military. * **West Region:** TriWest Healthcare Alliance (T-5 Contract). * **Overseas:** International SOS.

### Plan Comparison Table (2026 Example Rates) *Note: Exact "Group A" (Enlisted before 2018) vs "Group B" (Enlisted after 2018) status impacts these costs.*

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members:** Automatically enrolled in Prime; must ensure DEERS is updated for family. * **Active Duty Family Members:** Must choose between Prime (managed care) or Select (PPO-style). * **Retirees and their Families:** Must actively enroll and pay annual enrollment fees to maintain coverage. Must re-enroll within 90 days of retirement. * **National Guard & Reserve:** May be eligible for TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS), which requires a separate monthly premium and enrollment process. * **Young Adults:** Children age 21–26 who are no longer eligible for standard TRICARE must enroll in TRICARE Young Adult (TYA).

Common scenarios

**Scenario 1: The New Baby** Sgt. Miller (Active Duty) and his wife just had a baby in the West Region. They have 90 days to register the child in DEERS. Once registered, they must enroll the baby in TRICARE Prime or Select. Because they are active duty, there is $0 enrollment fee for the infant. If they miss the 90-day window, the baby may only be covered for "space-available" care at a military clinic until the next Open Season.

**Scenario 2: Retirement Transition** Major Thompson is retiring in June 2026. Her active duty TRICARE coverage ends on her last day of service. She has 90 days from her retirement date (a QLE) to enroll in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select as a retiree. She will need to pay an annual enrollment fee (e.g., ~$780+ for a family in 2026) to keep coverage active.

**Scenario 3: Moving Regions** A Navy family moves from Virginia (East - Humana) to California (West - TriWest). This move is a QLE. They must update their address in DEERS and contact TriWest to transfer their enrollment to the new region within 90 days.

## Related terms * **DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System):** The global database of military sponsors and family members used to verify identity and TRICARE eligibility. * **Qualifying Life Event (QLE):** A specific change in your life, such as moving or marriage, that opens a 90-day window to change TRICARE plans. * **Open Season:** The fixed annual period during which most beneficiaries can enroll in or change their health insurance plan. * **Sponsor:** The active duty, Guard/Reserve, or retired service member through whom family members gain TRICARE eligibility. * **Point-of-Service (POS) Option:** An expensive cost-sharing penalty incurred if a TRICARE Prime enrollee sees a specialist without a referral.

## Sources * TRICARE.mil Enrollment Page: https://www.tricare.mil/enrollment * Humana Military (East): https://www.humanamilitary.com/ * TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West): https://www.triwest.com/ * Defense Health Agency QLE Guide: https://www.tricare.mil/lifeevents