RAO Newsletter #2025-3 – 2026 TRICARE health plan costs

Dec. 16, 2025
As 2025 comes to a close, now is the time to start thinking about your family’s health care options for next year. You should know that your TRICARE health plan costs will change starting Jan. 1, 2026. Depending on your plan, these costs may include enrollment fees, premiums, cost-shares, and copayments.

Note: TRICARE costs change each year based on the law, the federal cost of living adjustment, and the costs of health care services and prescription drugs.

“Take the time now to review your 2026 TRICARE health plan costs,” said Debra Fisher, health system specialist, Policy & Programs Branch, TRICARE Health Plan, at the Defense Health Agency. “They will help you decide if you want to keep your family’s current coverage or change your enrollment during TRICARE Open Season.”

TRICARE Open Season is the annual period when anyone enrolled in or eligible for a TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select plan option can make changes to their health care coverage. This year, open season begins Nov. 10 and ends Dec. 9. Changes you make during open season will take effect Jan. 1, 2026.

Your beneficiary category and your beneficiary group determine the enrollment fees or premiums and out-of-pocket costs for your TRICARE plan. TRICARE beneficiaries fall into one of two groups:
  • Group A: The sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment began before Jan. 1, 2018.
  • Group B: The sponsor’s initial enlistment or appointment began on or after Jan. 1, 2018.
Are you enrolled in a premium-based health plan? Follow TRICARE Select Group B costs. The premium-based health plans are: Below are the lists of the calendar year 2026 costs for TRICARE health plans. Changes from 2025 costs are in bold.

Active duty family member costs
Active duty service members don’t have out-of-pocket costs. However, active duty family members may. These costs depend on:
  • Your TRICARE health plan
  • Your sponsor’s pay grade and group
  • What kind of care you get
  • Where you get care
Are you enrolled in a TRICARE Prime plan? You won’t have copayments unless you use the point-of-service option or fill a prescription outside of a military pharmacy.
Table 1 below shows your annual enrollment fee and annual deductible.
Table 2 shows your annual catastrophic cap and network and non-network copayments and cost-shares. Changes from 2025 costs are in bold.
Table 1: CY 2026 TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select enrollment fees and deductibles: active duty family members
Cost type TRICARE Prime
Group A		 TRICARE Prime
Group B		 TRICARE Select
Group A		 TRICARE Select
Group B
Annual enrollment fee (Individual) $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual enrollment fee (Family) $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual deductible (Individual: E-4 and below) $0 $0 $50 $66
Annual deductible (Family: E-4 and below) $0 $0 $100 $132
Annual deductible (Individual: E-5 and above) $0 $0 $150 $198
Annual deductible (Family: E-5 and above) $0 $0 $300 $397

Table 2: CY 2026 TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select out-of-pocket costs: active duty family members
Cost type TRICARE Prime
Group A*		 TRICARE Prime
Group B*		 TRICARE Select
Group A		 TRICARE Select
Group B
Annual catastrophic cap $1,000 $1,324 $1,000 $1,324
Preventive care visit $0 $0 $0 $0
Primary care $0 $0 Network: $28
Non-network: 20%**		 Network: $19
Non-network: 20%**
Specialty care $0 $0 Network: $39
Non-network: 20%**		 Network: $33
Non-network: 20%**
Emergency room visit $0 $0 Network: $103
Non-network: 20%**		 Network: $52
Non-network: 20%**
Urgent care center visit $0 $0 Network: $28
Non-network: 20%**		 Network: $26
Non-network: 20%**
Ambulatory surgery $0 $0 Network and Non-network: $25 Network: $33
Non-network: 20%**
Ambulance, outpatient ground $0 $0 Network: $88
Non-network: 20%**		 Network: $19
Non-network: 20%**
Ambulance, outpatient air $0 $0 Network and Non-network: 20%** Network and Non-network: 20%**
Durable medical equipment $0 $0 Network: 15%
Non-network: 20%**		 Network: 10%
Non-network: 20%**
Inpatient admission $0 $0 Network and Non-network: $24.50 per day; $25 minimum per admission Network: $79 per admission
Non-network: 20%**
Inpatient skilled nursing facility/rehab facility $0 $0 Network and Non-network: $24.50 per day; $25 minimum per admission Network: $33 per day
Non-network: $66 per day

* Getting non-network care may result in point-of-service charges.
** Percentage of TRICARE maximum-allowable charge after annual deductible is met.
Note: 
  • For primary mental health care, follow primary care costs.
  • For specialty mental health care, follow specialty care costs.
  • For maternity care (delivery and inpatient) or inpatient mental health care, follow inpatient admission costs.
Retired service members, their family members, and others
Table 3 below shows your TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select annual enrollment fees and annual deductibles.
Table 4 shows your TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select catastrophic caps, network and non-network copayments, and cost-shares. Changes from 2025 costs are in bold.

Table 3: CY 2026 TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select enrollment fees and deductibles: retirees, their family members, and all others
Cost type TRICARE Prime
Group A		 TRICARE Prime
Group B		 TRICARE Select
Group A		 TRICARE Select
Group B
Annual enrollment fee (Individual) $381.96 $462.96 $186.96 $594.96
Annual enrollment fee (Family) $765 $927 $375 $1,191
Annual deductible (Individual) $0 $0 $150 Network: $198
Non-network: $397
Annual deductible (Family) $0 $0 $300 Network: $397
Non-network: $794

Table 4: CY 2026 TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select out-of-pocket costs: retirees, their family members, and all others
Note: The CY 2026 catastrophic cap for TRICARE Select Group A retirees who are survivors of active duty deceased sponsors or medically retired uniformed service members and their dependents is $3,000.
 
Cost type TRICARE Prime
Group A*		 TRICARE Prime
Group B*		 TRICARE Select
Group A		 TRICARE Select
Group B
Annual catastrophic cap $3,000 $4,635 $4,381 $4,635
Preventive care visit $0 $0 $0 $0
Primary care $26 $26 Network: $38
Non-network: 25%**		 Network: $33
Non-network: 25%**
Specialty care $39 $39 Network: $52
Non-network: 25%**		 Network: $52
Non-network: 25%**
Emergency room visit $79 $79 Network: $138
Non-network: 25%**		 Network: $105
Non-network: 25%**
Urgent care center visit $39 $39 Network: $38
Non-network: 25%**		 Network: $52
Non-network: 25%**
Ambulatory surgery $79 $79 Network: 20%*
Non-network: 25%**		 Network: $125
Non-network: 25%**
Ambulance, outpatient ground $52 $52 Network: $117
Non-network: 25%**		 Network: $79
Non-network: 25%**
Ambulance, outpatient air $20 $20 Network and Non-network: 25%** Network and Non-network: 25%**
Durable medical equipment 20% 20% Network: 20%**
Non-network: 25%**		 Network: 20%**
Non-network: 25%**
Inpatient admission:
Network		 $198 per admission $198 per admission $250/day up to 25% of hospital charges, plus 20% of separately billed services $231 per admission
Inpatient admission:
Non-network		 $198 per admission $198 per admission ǂ $1,306/day up to 25% of hospital charges, plus 25% of separately billed services 25%**
Inpatient skilled nursing facility/rehab facility $39 per day $39 per day Network: $250/day up to 25% of hospital charges, plus 20% of separately billed services
Non-network: 25%**		 Network: $66 per day
Non-network: $397 per day or 20%** (whichever is less)
 
* Getting non-network care may result in point-of-service charges.
** Percentage of TRICARE maximum-allowable charge after annual deductible is met.
 ǂ This is the CY 2025 rate. All final claims reimbursed under the TRICARE Diagnosis Related Group-based payment system are to be priced using the rules, weights, and rates in effect as of the date of discharge.

Premium-based plans
When you or your family members purchase a premium-based health plan, you pay a monthly or quarterly premium.
Table 5 shows the monthly premiums for TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve, TRICARE Young Adult-Prime, and TRICARE Young Adult-Select.

Table 6 shows quarterly premiums for the Continued Health Care Benefit Program. Changes from 2025 costs are in bold.
Table 5: CY 2026 TRICARE premium-based health plans monthly premiums
Premium-based health plan Member Only Member and Family
TRICARE Reserve Select $57.88 $286.66
TRICARE Retired Reserve $645.90 $1,548.30
TRICARE Young Adult-Prime $794.00 Not applicable
TRICARE Young Adult-Select $363.00 Not applicable
  
Table 6: CY 2026 TRICARE premium-based health plans quarterly premiums
Premium-based health plan Single Family
Continued Health Care Benefit Program $2,103.00 $5,339.00
 
Looking for other TRICARE costs?
  • TRICARE For Life 2026 costs will be posted early next year.
  • Current TRICARE Dental Program premiums will stay the same through Feb. 28, 2026.
  • TRICARE Pharmacy Program costs for 2026-2027 will be available in mid-November 2025.

 
 

SOURCE: TRICARE Communications