TRICARE.com

TRICARE Health Insurance Costs: 2026 Guide

Comprehensive 2026 TRICARE cost guide: Enrollment fees, deductibles, copays, and catastrophic caps for Prime, Select, and Reserve plans.

TRICARE Health Insurance Costs: 2026 Guide

TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program; for official policy and real-time updates, visit TRICARE.mil.

## Quick answer TRICARE costs vary drastically depending on your military status (Active Duty vs. Retiree), your plan (Prime vs. Select), and when you or your sponsor joined the military. In 2026, Active Duty Service Members and their families typically pay $0 for care, while retirees face annual enrollment fees and cost-shares for most services.

## In detail TRICARE costs are primarily determined by two factors: **Beneficiary Category** (Group A vs. Group B) and your **Plan Choice**.

### 1. Group A vs. Group B (The Enrollment Date) * **Group A:** If the sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment occurred **before January 1, 2018**. * **Group B:** If the sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment occurred **on or after January 1, 2018**. Group B generally has higher enrollment fees and deductibles but lower catastrophic caps.

### 2. Enrollment Fees and Premiums (2026 Rates) While Active Duty families pay no enrollment fees, others do: * **TRICARE Prime (Retirees):** For 2026, Group A retirees typically pay approximately $391 per individual or $782 per family annually. * **TRICARE Select (Retirees):** Group A retirees pay an annual enrollment fee (roughly $189/individual or $378/family for 2026). * **Premium-Based Plans:** These plans require a monthly payment regardless of status: * **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS):** Monthly premiums apply for Selected Reserve members. * **TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR):** Higher monthly premiums for non-regular retirees under age 60. * **TRICARE Young Adult (TYA):** Monthly premiums for adult children up to age 26.

### 3. Out-of-Pocket Costs * **Deductibles:** The amount you pay before TRICARE begins to share the cost. In 2026, TRICARE Select Group A retirees have a $150 individual/$300 family deductible. * **Cost-Shares/Copayments:** Prime users usually pay flat copays (e.g., $25–$35 for a specialist visit), while Select users pay a percentage of the allowed amount (e.g., 20–25%). * **Catastrophic Cap:** This is the maximum you will pay out-of-pocket for covered services per calendar year. Once reached, TRICARE pays 100%. For 2026, the cap for Active Duty families is $1,000; for Group A Retirees, it is $4,153; and for Group B Retirees, it is $4,399.

### 4. Contractor Regions Management of these costs and provider networks is handled by: * **East Region:** Humana Military. * **West Region:** TriWest Healthcare Alliance.

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Always have $0 out-of-pocket costs for covered medical care. * **Active Duty Family Members (ADFMs):** Pay $0 if using TRICARE Prime; pay small deductibles and cost-shares if using TRICARE Select. * **Retirees and their Families:** Responsible for annual enrollment fees, deductibles, and cost-shares. * **National Guard/Reserve:** Costs depend on whether they are on active duty orders or purchasing TRS/TRR coverage. * **Young Adults:** Adult children (ages 21–26) who are not otherwise eligible and must pay monthly premiums for TYA.

Common scenarios

**Scenario 1: Active Duty Family on TRICARE Select (2026)** An Army Specialist (Group B) has a spouse and two children on TRICARE Select. They pay **$0 in enrollment fees**. They have a **$116 individual / $232 family deductible**. After the deductible is met, they pay small fixed copays (e.g., ~$18 for a primary care visit) until they hit their **$1,288 catastrophic cap**.

**Scenario 2: Retired Officer on TRICARE Prime (2026)** A retired Navy Commander (Group A) and his wife pay an **annual enrollment fee of $782**. When they see a civilian specialist in the Humana Military (East) network, they pay a **$37 copayment** per visit. Their out-of-pocket costs are capped at **$4,153** for the year.

**Scenario 3: Guard Member on TRICARE Reserve Select (2026)** A member of the Air National Guard pays a **monthly premium** (varies by year, check TRICARE.mil) to maintain coverage. They face a **$181 individual / $362 family deductible** (Group B rates) and pay 15% of the cost for most out-of-network or network outpatient visits.

## Related terms * **Catastrophic Cap:** The maximum pocket cost a family pays annually for covered TRICARE services. * **Cost-Share:** A percentage of the total cost of a covered health care service that you pay (typical for TRICARE Select). * **Copayment:** A fixed dollar amount you pay for a covered health care service (typical for TRICARE Prime). * **Enrollment Fee:** An annual fee retirees and their families must pay to remain covered by TRICARE Prime or Select. * **Premium:** A monthly recurring payment required for "purchased" plans like TRS, TRR, or TYA.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil Costs:** [https://www.tricare.mil/costs](https://www.tricare.mil/costs) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [https://health.mil/](https://health.mil/) * **Humana Military (East):** [https://www.humanamilitary.com/](https://www.humanamilitary.com/) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** [https://www.triwest.com/](https://www.triwest.com/)