TRICARE Premium AI: Automated Payments & 2026 Rates
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## Quick answer Premium-based plans (specifically TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve, TRICARE Young Adult, and TRICARE For Life) are not "free" like the standard benefit for active duty families. If you are enrolled in one of these plans, a "Premium AI" (Premium Automatic Installment) is a recurring, automated payment—typically via credit card or bank draft—used to pay your monthly enrollment fees to ensure your coverage does not lapse.
## In detail For most military members, healthcare costs are handled through tax funding or simple copays. However, for "premium-based" plans, you must pay a monthly fee to keep the insurance active. These payments are managed by the regional contractors: **Humana Military** (East) and **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** (West).
### How Premium Payments Work When you enroll in a premium-based plan, you are required to set up an automated payment method. This is often referred to internally or on bank statements as a "Premium AI" or recurring enrollment fee.
* **Payment Methods:** You can typically pay via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), recurring credit card/debit card payments, or, in some cases, an allotment from retired pay. * **The 2025/2026 Transition:** Following the T-5 contract transition on January 1, 2025, TriWest took over the West region. Many beneficiaries had to update their Premium AI settings to ensure payments were routing to TriWest instead of the former contractor, HNFS. * **Late Payments:** If a Premium AI fails (e.g., expired credit card), you usually have a 30-day grace period. After that, you may be disenrolled and locked out of coverage for up to 90 days.
### 2026 Monthly Premium Rates (Selected Plans) | Plan Name | Individual Rate (Monthly) | Family Rate (Monthly) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)** | $53.05 (2026) | $274.48 (2026) | | **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR)** | $581.09 (2026) | $1,206.59 (2026) | | **TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) Select** | $337.00 (2026) | N/A | | **TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) Prime** | $637.00 (2026) | N/A |
*Note: Rates are subject to annual adjustments by the Defense Health Agency (DHA).*
## Who this applies to * **Qualified National Guard and Reserve members:** Specifically those using TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) who are not on active duty. * **Retired Reserve members:** Those under age 60 using TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR). * **Adult Children:** Young adults age 21–26 using TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) who are not otherwise eligible for their own employer-sponsored coverage. * **Transitioning Members:** Those using the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP), which acts like COBRA for the military.
Common scenarios
### Scenario 1: The Reserve Family Sgt. Miller (Army Reserve) is enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select Family. Every month, a **Premium AI** of $274.48 (2026 rate) is automatically charged to his Visa card. If his card expires and he doesn't update it on the Humana Military portal, his family's coverage will be suspended until the balance is paid.
### Scenario 2: The Recent Graduate Sarah, aged 23, is the daughter of a retired Sailor. She is enrolled in TRICARE Young Adult Prime. Because she is a "Group B" beneficiary, she pays a monthly premium of $637.00 (2026 rate) via a recurring bank draft (EFT) to TriWest. This automated installment allows her to see providers at the local MTF or with a referral in town.
## Related terms * **Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT):** A digital movement of money from a bank account to the TRICARE contractor to pay premiums. * **Allotment:** A deduction taken directly from a retiree's monthly pay to cover TRICARE costs. * **TRICARE Online Provider Portal:** The website (Humana Military or TriWest) where beneficiaries manage their Premium AI settings. * **Disenrollment for Non-Payment:** The process where TRICARE cancels your coverage because the automated installment failed. * **Group A vs. Group B:** Specific categories based on when the sponsor joined the military, which can affect certain cost structures.
## Sources * TRICARE.mil: Plans and Costs [https://www.tricare.mil/Costs/HealthPlanCosts] * Humana Military (East Contractor): [https://www.humanamilitary.com/] * TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Contractor): [https://www.triwest.com/] * Defense Health Agency (DHA): 2026 Premium Rates Announcement