TRICARE Open Season 2026: Dates, Who Can Change and Costs
TRICARE Open Season 2026 runs November 9 through December 8, 2026. Changes you make take effect January 1, 2027. It applies to people with or eligible for a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select. It does not apply to active duty service members or TRICARE For Life beneficiaries.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Reviewed against tricare.mil on October 26, 2026 · Methodology & sources
FedRateCalc is not affiliated with TRICARE, the Defense Health Agency or the Department of Defense. Confirm your own eligibility and deadlines at tricare.mil.
Key dates
- TRICARE Open Season: November 9 to December 8, 2026.
- Changes take effect: January 1, 2027.
- FEDVIP dental and vision (Federal Benefits Open Season): November 9 to December 14, 2026, also effective January 1, 2027.
Who can and can't change plans
| Group | Open season applies? |
|---|---|
| People with or eligible for TRICARE Prime (including the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan and the TRICARE Prime Demo) | Yes |
| People with or eligible for TRICARE Select | Yes |
| Active duty service members | No |
| TRICARE For Life beneficiaries | No |
| People enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve or TRICARE Young Adult | No |
What you can do during open season
- Stay in your plan. If you want to keep your current TRICARE health plan, you do not have to re-enroll.
- Enroll in a plan. Join a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select if you qualify.
- Change plans. If you are already in a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select, you can switch plans, or switch between individual and family enrollment.
If you are not in a plan and do not enroll during open season, you will only be eligible for care at a military hospital or clinic, if space is available.
How to enroll or change your plan
- Online: go to milConnect.
- By phone: call your TRICARE regional contractor or designated provider.
- By mail or fax: send an enrollment form to your TRICARE regional contractor or designated provider.
Changing outside open season: qualifying life events
Outside open season you can enroll in or change enrollment to a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select after a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event (QLE). A QLE is a certain change in your life, such as marriage, birth of a child, or retirement from active duty, which may mean different TRICARE health plans are available to you and your family.
A QLE opens a 90-day period for eligible enrollment changes. A QLE for one family member creates an opportunity for all eligible family members to make changes.
FEDVIP dental and vision
You may also be eligible for dental and vision coverage through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). It is managed by the Office of Personnel Management, and you use BENEFEDS to check eligibility, compare plans and rates, and enroll. Federal Benefits Open Season is November 9 to December 14, 2026, and changes take effect January 1, 2027. You need coverage in a TRICARE health plan to be eligible for vision coverage.
The same Federal Benefits Open Season covers FEHB and PSHB for federal employees: see the FEHB and PSHB open season 2026 page.
TRICARE costs: 2026 — 2027 costs not yet posted
These are calendar year 2026 costs from tricare.mil. 2026 — 2027 costs not yet posted as of October 26, 2026, so do not read these as your 2027 costs. Group A means the sponsor's initial enlistment or appointment began before Jan. 1, 2018; Group B means on or after Jan. 1, 2018.
Active duty family members & transitional survivors
| Group and plan | Enrollment fee (individual / family) | Deductible | Catastrophic cap (per family) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group A, TRICARE Prime | $0 / $0 | Individual / family: $0 / $0 | $1,000 |
| Group A, TRICARE Select | $0 / $0 | Pay grades E-1 through E-4 (individual / family): $50 / $100Pay grades E-5 and above (individual / family): $150 / $300 | $1,000 |
| Group B, TRICARE Prime | $0 / $0 | Individual / family: $0 / $0 | $1,324 |
| Group B, TRICARE Select | $0 / $0 | Pay grades E-1 through E-4 (individual / family): $66 / $132Pay grades E-5 and above (individual / family): $198 / $397 | $1,324 |
Retiree, family member or other
| Group and plan | Enrollment fee (individual / family) | Deductible | Catastrophic cap (per family) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group A, TRICARE PrimeMedically retired sponsors: see the tricare.mil table. The fee is waived if you are under 65 with Medicare Part A and B. | $381.96 / $765 | Individual / family: $0 / $0 | $3,000 |
| Group A, TRICARE SelectThe fee is $0 for medically retired sponsors, their family members and survivors, and their cap is $3,000. | $186.96 / $375 | Individual / family: $150 / $300 | $4,381 |
| Group B, TRICARE Prime | $462.96 / $927 | Individual / family: $0 / $0 | $4,635 |
| Group B, TRICARE Select | $594.96 / $1,191 | Individual (network / non-network): $198 / $397Family (network / non-network): $397 / $794 | $4,635 |
Your 2026 enrollment fee
2026 annual enrollment fee, from tricare.mil
$381.96
Medically retired sponsors: see the tricare.mil table. The fee is waived if you are under 65 with Medicare Part A and B.
2026 figure only. 2027 costs were not posted as of October 26, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When is TRICARE open season 2026?
TRICARE Open Season is November 9 through December 8, 2026. Changes you make during open season take effect January 1, 2027.
When does TRICARE open season end?
TRICARE Open Season ends December 8, 2026. The separate Federal Benefits Open Season for FEDVIP dental and vision coverage runs through December 14, 2026.
Can active duty service members change TRICARE plans during open season?
No. TRICARE says open season applies to anyone who has or qualifies for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select, except active duty service members. It also does not apply to TRICARE For Life beneficiaries or people enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve or TRICARE Young Adult.
What if I miss TRICARE open season?
If you are already in a plan and want to keep it, you do not need to re-enroll. If you are not in a plan and do not enroll during open season, you will only be eligible for care at a military hospital or clinic, if space is available, unless a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event opens a 90-day window for enrollment changes.
Is there a TRICARE dental open season?
TRICARE Open Season covers your TRICARE health plan. Eligible people can enroll in dental and vision coverage through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), managed by OPM, during Federal Benefits Open Season, November 9 through December 14, 2026. Changes take effect January 1, 2027. You need coverage in a TRICARE health plan to be eligible for vision coverage.
Related military tools
Sources: TRICARE Open Season (tricare.mil) · TRICARE health plan costs (tricare.mil) · BENEFEDS (FEDVIP dental and vision) · OPM Open Season
Not affiliated with TRICARE, the Defense Health Agency or the Department of Defense. tricare.mil is authoritative.