TRICARE Costs for Active Duty Families: 2026 Guide

*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense. For official policy, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer Active duty service members (ADSMs) never pay monthly premiums or enrollment fees for TRICARE. Their dependents also pay **$0 in monthly premiums** to be added to TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select. While enrollment is free for active duty families, you may encounter out-of-pocket costs like copayments depending on which plan you choose and where you receive care.

In detail

TRICARE is not "private" insurance; it is a federal government health program. For active duty families, the question of cost is split into two categories: **Premiums** (the monthly "subscription" cost) and **Cost-Shares** (what you pay when you actually see a doctor).

### 1. Monthly Premiums ($0 for Active Duty Families) Unlike civilian employer plans, where an employee pays a portion of their paycheck to cover their spouse and children, TRICARE is a benefit of service. * **Active Duty Service Members:** Always enrolled in TRICARE Prime. Monthly cost: **$0**. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFM):** Can choose between TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select. Monthly cost for either: **$0**.

### 2. TRICARE Prime vs. TRICARE Select Costs (2026 Rates) While there is no monthly fee to *have* the insurance, the costs you pay during a doctor's visit depend on your plan:

*Note: "Group A" usually refers to those who entered service before Jan 1, 2018. "Group B" refers to those who joined on or after that date. Figures for 2026 are subject to annual Dept. of Defense adjustments.*

### 3. Point-of-Service (POS) Charges If a dependent is on TRICARE Prime and sees a doctor without a referral from their Primary Care Manager (PCM), they will be charged "Point-of-Service" fees. These are expensive (often a $300 deductible and 50% of the bill). To keep costs at $0, always get a referral.

### 4. Pharmacy Costs Prescriptions filled at a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) pharmacy are $0. If you use Home Delivery or a retail pharmacy, you will pay a small co-pay (usually between $18 and $81 for a 90-day supply in 2026) through Express Scripts.

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members:** Mandatory enrollment in Prime; $0 premiums and $0 out-of-pocket for all authorized care. * **Active Duty Spouses and Children:** $0 monthly premiums. Choice between Prime (lowest out-of-pocket) or Select (more provider choice but higher co-pays). * **Transitional Assistance (TAMP) Users:** Service members separating under certain conditions may get 180 days of premium-free coverage. * **Does NOT apply to:** TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) or TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) users, who *do* pay monthly premiums.

Common scenarios

**Scenario 1: The Prime Family** Sgt. Miller is stationed at Fort Cavazos with a wife and two kids. They are all enrolled in TRICARE Prime. They pay **$0 per month** in premiums. The children see a pediatrician on-post, and Mrs. Miller sees a specialist with a referral. The family's total out-of-pocket medical cost for the year is **$0**.

**Scenario 2: The Select Family** PO1 Jones is on active duty in San Diego. His wife prefers to see a civilian OBGYN who is not in the military network, so she chooses TRICARE Select. They pay **$0 per month** in premiums. However, because they are using Select, they pay approximately **$36 per visit** and must meet a small annual deductible before TRICARE pays the rest.

## Related terms * **Premium:** The fixed monthly amount paid for insurance (for Active Duty families, this is $0). * **Cost-Share:** The percentage of the total cost of a service that the patient pays (common in TRICARE Select). * **Copayment:** A fixed dollar amount paid for a specific service (e.g., $36 for a doctor visit). * **Catastrophic Cap:** The maximum amount a family will pay out-of-pocket in a year (protects you from massive medical debt). * **DEERS:** The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System; you must update this for a dependent to be "added" to your policy.

## Sources * TRICARE Costs: [https://www.tricare.mil/costs](https://www.tricare.mil/costs) * TRICARE Prime: [https://www.tricare.mil/prime](https://www.tricare.mil/prime) * TRICARE Select: [https://www.tricare.mil/select](https://www.tricare.mil/select) * Humana Military (East Region): [https://www.humanamilitary.com/](https://www.humanamilitary.com/) * TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region): [https://www.triwest.com/](https://www.triwest.com/)