TRICARE Cost Calculator 2026 — Compare Plans & Costs

TRICARE Prime is a managed care option similar to an HMO. You are assigned a primary care manager (PCM) who coordinates your care and provides referrals for specialists.

• Active duty: Automatically enrolled at no cost. No copays, no deductibles, no enrollment fees.
• Retirees: $406.80/year individual or $813.60/year family enrollment fee. $26 primary care copay, $36 specialty copay, $75 ER copay.
• Catastrophic cap: $3,500/year for retirees. $0 for active duty.

Prime offers the lowest out-of-pocket costs but requires referrals for specialty care and limits you to the Prime network.

TRICARE Select is a self-managed PPO-style plan. You can see any TRICARE-authorized provider without referrals.

• Active duty families: No enrollment fee. $150 individual / $300 family deductible. $28 primary care, $33 specialty care (network). $1,000 catastrophic cap.
• Retirees: $170.28/year individual or $340.56/year family enrollment fee. $150 individual / $300 family deductible. 20–25% cost-shares after deductible. $3,500 catastrophic cap.

Select offers more provider freedom with higher cost-sharing. Best for those who want to choose their own doctors.

TRICARE For Life (TFL) is the TRICARE program for Medicare-eligible military retirees and their Medicare-eligible family members. It wraps around Medicare, covering most costs that Medicare does not.

• Enrollment fee: $0, but you must pay Medicare Part B premium ($185/month in 2026)
• Deductible: $0 beyond Medicare deductibles
• Coverage: Most care covered at 100% after Medicare pays its share
• Catastrophic cap: $3,500/year

TFL provides excellent coverage and is available automatically to retirees who have Medicare Part A and Part B.

TRICARE For Life (TFL) acts as a secondary payer after Medicare. When you receive care:

1. Medicare pays its portion first
2. TFL pays most or all of the remaining balance
3. You typically pay nothing out of pocket

TFL is one of the most comprehensive health plans available. Most military retirees who are Medicare-eligible pay very little out of pocket beyond the Medicare Part B premium.

To use TRICARE For Life, you must have both Medicare Part A (hospital insurance, usually free) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance). The 2026 Medicare Part B premium is $185.00/month ($2,220/year).

While $2,220/year seems expensive, TFL provides essentially complete coverage after Medicare pays. For retirees with significant healthcare needs, TFL + Medicare is typically the most cost-effective option.

Important: Do not delay enrolling in Medicare Part B when you become eligible at age 65. Late enrollment penalties apply and you may have a gap in TRICARE coverage.

When you turn 65 and become Medicare-eligible, you transition from TRICARE Prime or Select to TRICARE For Life. Key differences:

• No enrollment fee (but Medicare Part B premium applies)
• No referrals needed — see any Medicare-accepting provider
• Near-zero cost-sharing for most services
• Worldwide coverage available through TFL

Most retirees find TFL + Medicare provides better coverage at a comparable or lower total cost than Prime or Select.

Veterans with a 50% or higher VA disability rating can receive VA healthcare at no cost for all conditions — not just service-connected ones. This can significantly reduce your reliance on TRICARE.

With a 50%+ rating, you are in VA Priority Group 1, meaning:

• No copays for VA medical care
• No copays for VA prescriptions
• Access to VA dental and vision programs

Use the VA Disability Rating Calculator to determine your combined rating.

Retirees with VA disability may benefit from a combined strategy:

• VA healthcare for routine care, service-connected conditions, and prescriptions (often $0 cost)
• TRICARE for family member coverage, civilian provider access, and specialty care not available at VA facilities

This combination can dramatically reduce total out-of-pocket healthcare costs for military retiree families. Check your 2026 VA disability compensation rates to see your monthly benefit.

TRICARE Prime is a managed care (HMO-style) plan with a primary care manager, referrals for specialists, and lower out-of-pocket costs. TRICARE Select is a PPO-style plan that lets you see any TRICARE-authorized provider without referrals but has higher copays and cost-shares. Active duty members use Prime at no cost. Retirees can choose either plan.

TRICARE Prime costs retirees $406.80/year ($33.90/month) for individual or $813.60/year ($67.80/month) for family enrollment. TRICARE Select costs $170.28/year ($14.19/month) individual or $340.56/year ($28.38/month) family. Both plans have a $3,500 catastrophic cap. Use the calculator above to compare total costs based on your expected healthcare usage.

TRICARE For Life is the TRICARE plan for Medicare-eligible military retirees (typically age 65+). It supplements Medicare by covering most costs that Medicare does not pay. There is no TFL enrollment fee, but you must enroll in and pay for Medicare Part B ($185/month in 2026). TFL has a $3,500 catastrophic cap.

VA disability does not affect TRICARE eligibility, but veterans with a 50%+ VA disability rating get free VA healthcare, reducing the need for TRICARE. Many retirees use VA healthcare for routine and service-connected care while keeping TRICARE for family coverage and civilian provider access. See the VA disability calculator for more information.

Yes, eligible retirees can use both. VA covers service-connected conditions at no cost for qualifying veterans. TRICARE covers family members, non-service-connected care, and civilian provider access. The two systems operate independently — VA cannot bill TRICARE. Many retirees use both to minimize total healthcare costs.