TRICARE Standard (Replaced by TRICARE Select on Jan. 1, 2018)
TRICARE Standard no longer exists. On Jan. 1, 2018, the Department of Defense combined TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra into a single self-managed plan…
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Overview
TRICARE Standard was retired on Jan. 1, 2018. It was replaced by TRICARE Select, a single self-managed PPO-style plan that combined the old TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra into one option. If you had Standard or Extra before 2018, your coverage was automatically transferred to TRICARE Select — no action was required. For all current information about the self-managed alternative to Prime, see our TRICARE Select guide.
📋 Who It's For
Who this affects: Anyone enrolled in TRICARE Standard or TRICARE Extra before 2018 was automatically moved to TRICARE Select. No new beneficiary can enroll in Standard or Extra — those plans no longer exist as separate options.
💰 Costs (2025)
There are no current TRICARE Standard costs. All beneficiaries now use TRICARE Select cost-shares, which depend on whether you are in Group A (sponsor entered service before Jan. 1, 2018) or Group B (entered on or after Jan. 1, 2018). Group A retirees in 2025 pay no enrollment fee for Select, and Group B retirees pay $579/individual or $1,158.96/family per year.
🩺 What's Covered
TRICARE Select covers the same broad set of medically necessary services that Standard covered — preventive care, primary care, specialty care, hospitalization, mental health, maternity, and prescription drugs (via the separate pharmacy benefit). The plan structure changed in 2018; the covered benefits did not significantly change.
📝 How to Enroll or Use
If you had Standard before 2018, no action is needed — you are now enrolled in TRICARE Select automatically. To see your current plan or change it, log in to milConnect or call your regional contractor: Humana Military (East) at 800-444-5445 or TriWest (West) at 888-TRIWEST.
⚠️ Common Pitfalls
The most common confusion is that beneficiaries still refer to their plan as 'Standard' out of habit. Your ID card and the TRICARE.mil portal will show TRICARE Select. When searching for current cost or coverage information, search for 'TRICARE Select' — Standard documentation is now historical only.
❓ Frequently Asked
Why was Standard retired? Congress mandated the consolidation in the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to simplify the TRICARE benefit and align cost-shares with civilian commercial plans.
Did my doctor change? No. The provider network did not change with the Standard → Select transition. Network providers became 'preferred' providers under Select.
Did my deductible change? Group A deductibles stayed the same ($150 individual / $300 family for retirees). Group B beneficiaries follow a different schedule.
🔄 Recent Changes
Jan. 1, 2018: TRICARE Standard and Extra were combined into TRICARE Select. Jan. 1, 2025: TriWest replaced Health Net Federal Services as the West Region T-5 contractor.
📚 Official Sources
- TRICARE Select overview: https://tricare.mil/Plans/HealthPlans/Select
- TRICARE plan history and changes: https://tricare.mil/About/Changes
- 2025 Costs and Fees Sheet: https://tricare.mil/Costs
Key Facts
- Origin
- United States
- Category
- benefits
- Type
- concept
- Format
- plan
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TRICARE Standard still available?
No. TRICARE Standard was retired on Jan. 1, 2018, and replaced by TRICARE Select. You cannot enroll in Standard.
What happened to my old TRICARE Standard coverage?
If you had Standard or Extra before 2018, you were automatically moved to TRICARE Select. No paperwork was required.
Should I use Standard or Select cost information?
Always use TRICARE Select information. Standard cost data is no longer current.