Services By TRICARE Standard: A Complete 2026 Guide
*TRICARE.Com is an independent reference site and is not an official government platform. For official policy and the most current data, visit TRICARE.mil.*
## Quick answer "TRICARE Standard" is an obsolete plan name. For most beneficiaries, it was replaced by **TRICARE Select** on January 1, 2018. If you are looking for military health services provided under a "standard" non-HMO model today, you are likely looking for TRICARE Select, which offers the freedom to see any TRICARE-authorized provider without a referral.
In detail
Until 2018, TRICARE Standard was the program's fee-for-service option. Today, those same services—and the freedom to choose your own doctor—are found under **TRICARE Select**.
Unlike TRICARE Prime (which uses a managed-care model), TRICARE Select does not require you to have a Primary Care Manager (PCM) or get referrals for most specialty care.
### Covered Services Under the Select/Standard model, TRICARE covers "medically necessary and appropriate" care, including: * **Outpatient Care:** Office visits, urgent care, and vaccinations. * **Inpatient Care:** Hospitalization, surgeries, and maternity care. * **Behavioral Health:** Outpatient therapy and inpatient psychiatric care. * **Preventive Care:** Periodic physical exams, screenings (cancer, infectious disease), and well-child care. (Note: Most preventive care has a $0 out-of-pocket cost if using an in-network provider). * **Durable Medical Equipment (DME):** Wheelchairs, nebulizers, and oxygen.
### Costs for 2026 Costs are determined by your "Group" status. Group A includes those who entered service before Jan. 1, 2018. Group B includes those who entered on or after that date.
| Service Type (In-Network) | Group A (Retired) 2026 | Group B 2026 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Annual Enrollment Fee** | varies by plan year — check TRICARE.mil | varies by plan year — check TRICARE.mil | | **Primary Care Visit** | ~$35–$40 | ~$30–$35 | | **Specialty Care Visit** | ~$50–$60 | ~$50–$60 | | **Emergency Room** | ~$150–$165 | ~$100–$120 |
*Note: Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs) cannot use TRICARE Select; they must use TRICARE Prime.*
### Regional Management As of 2026, TRICARE Select services are managed by two regional contractors: * **TRICARE East:** Managed by Humana Military. * **TRICARE West:** Managed by TriWest Healthcare Alliance.
## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Can choose Select to avoid the referral requirements of Prime, though they will face higher out-of-pocket costs. * **Retirees and their Families:** Most retirees use Select (formerly Standard) if they live in an area without a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) or prefer private-sector doctors. * **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) Members:** Traditional drilling guardsmen and reservists use a version of the Select/Standard model. * **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) Members:** Gray-area retirees who have not yet reached age 60.
Common scenarios
### Scenario 1: The Specialty Visit Jane is a retired Navy spouse (Group A) living in San Diego. She wants to see a dermatologist for a skin check. Under the Select/Standard model, she does not need a referral. She books an appointment with a TriWest in-network specialist. For 2026, she pays her calculated copay (approximately $55) at the office, and TRICARE covers the remainder of the allowed amount.
### Scenario 2: Out-of-Network Care Mark is an ADFM in the East Region. He chooses to see a non-network provider for physical therapy. Because he is using TRICARE Select (Standard model), he can do this, but his costs are higher. He must meet his 2026 deductible first, then he pays 20% of the TRICARE-allowable charge, plus any "balance billing" (up to an additional 15%) if the doctor is not TRICARE-authorized.
## Related terms * **TRICARE Select:** The modern successor to TRICARE Standard; a PPO-style health plan. * **Allowable Charge:** The maximum amount TRICARE will pay for a specific medical service. * **Catastrophic Cap:** The maximum out-of-pocket amount a family pays per calendar year for covered services. * **Cost-Share:** The percentage of the total cost you pay (common in Select/Standard models). * **Point of Service (POS):** An option in TRICARE Prime that mimics Standard/Select by allowing care without a referral at a higher cost.
## Sources * **TRICARE.mil - TRICARE Select:** [https://www.tricare.mil/select](https://www.tricare.mil/select) * **Humana Military (East):** [https://www.humanamilitary.com/](https://www.humanamilitary.com/) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** [https://www.triwest.com/](https://www.triwest.com/)