What Is a TRICARE Plan?

TRICARE is the health insurance coverage program for the U.S. military. It covers active duty service members, military retirees, National Guard and Reserve members and their families, spouses and some former spouses.

TRICARE Plans

• The military provides nine different TRICARE plan options. TRICARE Prime consists of comprehensive coverage; TRICARE Prime Remote serves active duty service members living in certain remote areas. TRICARE Prime Overseas and TRICARE Prime Overseas Remote provide coverage for active duty service members and their families living overseas. TRICARE Standard and Extra are not available to active duty service members, and require more out-of-pocket costs. The U.S. Family Health Plan is available to all non-active duty service members. TRICARE For Life is secondary coverage for Medicare recipients. TRICARE Overseas is for non-active duty personnel overseas, and TRICARE Reserve Select and Retired Reserve Select are plans for National Guard and Reserve members.

What TRICARE Covers

• TRICARE covers outpatient services, hospitalization, preventive services, maternity care, immunizations, and mental and behavioral health services. There are also options for dental coverage, and coverage for treatment of health conditions such as cancer, weight loss and smoking cessation.

Cost of TRICARE

• TRICARE is free for active duty service members. Family members do not pay any costs if they use military medical facilities. For non-active duty and retired service members and their families, there are annual enrollment fees and co-payments.