Retiring From Military: TRICARE Guide 2026

**Important Disclosure:** TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not a government agency or the official TRICARE program. For official policy and enrollment, please visit TRICARE.mil.

## Quick answer When you retire from active duty, you experience a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event (QLE). Your active-duty coverage ends, and you must proactively enroll in a retiree plan—typically TRICARE Select or TRICARE Prime—within 90 days to avoid a gap in coverage. Unlike active duty, retirees must pay annual enrollment fees and higher cost-shares for medical services.

## In detail Retirement marks the most significant shift in your healthcare benefits. You move from a "non-contributory" model (no premiums) to a cost-sharing model.

### 1. Enrollment Requirements You are not automatically enrolled in retiree health care. You have **90 days** from your retirement date to enroll in a new plan. If you miss this window, you can only enroll during the annual Open Season (usually mid-November to mid-December) or after another QLE.

### 2. Choosing a Plan As of 2026, retirees generally choose between these primary options:

* **TRICARE Prime:** Available in Prime Service Areas (PSAs). It features the lowest out-of-pocket costs but requires a Primary Care Manager (PCM) and referrals for specialty care. * **TRICARE Select:** A PPO-style plan available anywhere. It offers the most flexibility to see any TRICARE-authorized provider without a referral, but features higher deductibles and cost-shares. * **TRICARE For Life (TFL):** For retirees aged 65+ who have Medicare Part A and Part B. TFL acts as secondary payer to Medicare.

### 3. Understanding Costs (2026 Rates) Costs vary based on when you (the sponsor) first entered the military. * **Group A:** Initial enlistment or appointment before Jan. 1, 2018. * **Group B:** Initial enlistment or appointment on or after Jan. 1, 2018.

*Note: These are estimated 2026 figures; exact annual adjustments are finalized by the Defense Health Agency (DHA) each fall.*

### 4. Dental and Vision TRICARE dental and vision benefits change significantly upon retirement: * **Dental:** Retiree dental is provided through the **FEDVIP** program (Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program), managed by OPM. You must enroll during Open Season or within 60 days of retirement. * **Vision:** Retirees and their families are eligible for FEDVIP vision plans. You must be enrolled in a TRICARE health plan to qualify.

### 5. Regional Contractors * **East Region:** Humana Military * **West Region:** TriWest Healthcare Alliance (Effective Jan 1, 2025)

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Retirees:** Regular retirement after 20+ years of service. * **Medically Retired:** Members placed on the Permanent Disability Retired List (PDRL) or Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL). * **National Guard/Reserve:** Members who reach age 60 (or earlier based on qualifying active service) and begin receiving retired pay. * **Family Members:** Spouses and dependent children of the above retirees.

Common scenarios

**Scenario 1: The Group A Prime Retiree** Master Sergeant Miller retires in San Diego after 22 years of service (Group A). He enrolls his family in TRICARE Prime. In 2026, he pays approximately $770 for the year in enrollment fees. When his daughter sees a specialist with a referral, his copay is roughly $37.

**Scenario 2: The Group B Select Retiree** Major Chen joined in 2019 and is medically retired in 2026 (Group B). She lives in a rural area and chooses TRICARE Select for flexibility. She pays a yearly enrollment fee of roughly $580. Because she is Group B, she faces a higher deductible (approx. $200–$400) before TRICARE begins paying for her outpatient visits.

**Scenario 3: Medicare-Eligible Retiree** Captain Ross is 65 and retiring. He must enroll in Medicare Part B to keep TRICARE. He is automatically transitioned to TRICARE For Life. He pays no TRICARE enrollment fees but must pay his monthly Medicare Part B premiums (usually deducted from Social Security).

## Related terms * **Qualifying Life Event (QLE):** A certain change in your life, such as retirement, that allows you to enroll in or change your TRICARE health plan outside of Open Season. * **Catastrophic Cap:** The maximum amount you will pay out-of-pocket for covered services each year ($4,000–$4,500 for most 2026 retirees). * **DEERS:** The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System; you must update your status here immediately upon retirement. * **FEDVIP:** Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program; the portal for retiree dental/vision. * **PCM:** Primary Care Manager; the doctor who coordinates your care under a Prime plan.

## Sources * TRICARE.mil Retiring Section: https://www.tricare.mil/retiring * Defense Health Agency (DHA) Cost Factors: https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Business-Support/Rates-and-Reimbursement * BENEFEDS (FEDVIP Enrollment): https://www.benefeds.com/