Reviewed by the Rank and Pay editorial team. Content reflects current OPM and TRICARE program rules as of 2026.
Table of Contents
- What Is FEHB?
- What Is TRICARE?
- FEHB vs TRICARE at a Glance
- Can You Have Both FEHB and TRICARE?
- The FEHB Suspension Option for Military Retirees
- Who Should Pick FEHB, TRICARE, or Both?
- How to Enroll or Switch
- The Verdict
- Next Steps
- Frequently Asked Questions
If you served in uniform and now work a federal civilian job, or you draw a military retirement while employed by the government, you likely qualify for two health programs at once. That means a real choice, not a default. This guide walks through FEHB, TRICARE, and how veteran federal employees decide between them.
Your decision also affects your family. A working spouse with their own employer coverage, school-age kids needing a stable pediatrician network, or a parent nearing Medicare age all change the math. Walk through each scenario before you lock in a choice for the year.
What Is FEHB?
FEHB is the health insurance program for most federal civilian employees and retirees, run by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). It is not one plan. It is a marketplace of dozens of competing private plans, including nationwide and regional options.
You pick a plan during Open Season each fall. The government pays a large share of the premium, and your share comes out of your paycheck or annuity before taxes.
FEHB plans come in a few formats: fee-for-service plans with nationwide networks, HMOs tied to a service area, and consumer-driven or high-deductible options with a savings account attached. Each carrier sets its own premiums and benefits within OPM rules.
FEHB covers employees, most retirees, and eligible family members. Coverage is guaranteed-issue. No plan can turn you down or charge you more for a pre-existing condition.
Federal Postal Service employees now use a related program called PSHB instead of FEHB, but the choice logic against TRICARE works the same way.
What Is TRICARE?
TRICARE is the health care program for uniformed services retirees, active duty family members, and other military-connected beneficiaries. It is run by the Defense Health Agency, not OPM.
Retired service members can choose TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Select, or, once they reach 65, TRICARE For Life alongside Medicare. Coverage extends to eligible spouses and children too.
TRICARE Prime works like an HMO, with a primary care manager and required referrals for specialists. TRICARE Select works more like a PPO, letting you see any TRICARE-authorized provider without a referral, usually for a higher cost-share.
Unlike FEHB, TRICARE is not a menu of competing private insurers. It is a single government-run benefit with regional networks and set enrollment fees. Our full breakdown of plan choices lives at TRICARE options explained.
National Guard and Reserve technicians who retire from military service, or who qualify through a different path, may also become TRICARE-eligible while still working a federal civilian job.
FEHB vs TRICARE at a Glance
FEHB and TRICARE differ most in cost, network size, and who controls your plan choice, as the table below shows. Neither program is automatically better. The right pick depends on your job status, location, and family needs.
| Factor | FEHB | TRICARE |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility basis | Federal civilian employment or federal annuity | Military retirement, active duty family status, or other uniformed-service link |
| Premium cost structure | Government covers roughly 70% of the premium; you pay the rest by payroll or annuity deduction | Retirees pay enrollment fees or premiums that are generally lower than typical FEHB premiums, plus copays and cost-shares |
| Provider network/access | Dozens of competing plans, many with large national networks and broad specialist access | Regional networks tied to your plan type; Prime requires referrals, Select offers more direct access |
| Plan choice/competition | Dozens of private plans compete for your enrollment each year | One government program with a small set of standardized plan types |
| Coordination when both are active | Pays first if you are an active employee under 65 | Pays second behind FEHB for working employees; order shifts after retirement and Medicare eligibility |
| Open enrollment timing | Federal Open Season runs mid-November through mid-December | TRICARE Open Season runs on nearly the same November-to-December calendar |
Exact premium and fee amounts change every year for both programs. Check your specific FEHB plan brochure and the current TRICARE cost sheet before you commit to a decision.
Can You Have Both FEHB and TRICARE?
Yes, you can be enrolled in both FEHB and TRICARE at the same time. Federal law does not force you to drop one to keep the other.
What you cannot do is collect duplicate payment on the same medical claim from two payers. Coordination-of-benefits rules decide which plan pays first and which pays second. See the official rule at TRICARE's FAQ on FEHB and TRICARE coverage.
If you are an actively working federal employee under 65, FEHB generally pays first and TRICARE pays second. Once you retire and reach Medicare eligibility at 65, the order changes: Medicare pays first, FEHB pays next, and TRICARE For Life pays last.
Carrying both at once means paying an FEHB premium on top of any TRICARE cost. Many people find that stacking both makes sense only for a short window, such as right before retirement.
Dependents complicate this further. A spouse or child covered under both programs follows the same secondary-payer logic, so keep both insurance cards on hand at every appointment.
For a side-by-side look at TRICARE against VA health care instead of FEHB, see VA health care vs TRICARE.
The FEHB Suspension Option for Military Retirees
Military retirees who are also federal annuitants can suspend FEHB coverage instead of paying two premiums at once. This is a specific OPM benefit built for people in your exact situation.
To suspend, you file form RI 79-9 with proof of your TRICARE or TRICARE For Life eligibility, such as your Uniformed Services ID card. Once suspended, you stop paying FEHB premiums entirely and rely on TRICARE alone.
Suspension is not a one-time decision. You can unsuspend and re-enroll in FEHB during any later Open Season, in any plan available to you, with no waiting period and no pre-existing condition penalty.
If you lose TRICARE coverage involuntarily, you get an extra path back into FEHB. You can re-enroll effective the day after TRICARE coverage ends, as long as OPM receives your request within 31 days before to 60 days after that loss. See TRICARE's guidance on suspending FEHB for TRICARE For Life.
This flexibility is what makes FEHB and TRICARE different from most private insurance trade-offs. You are not locked into one choice for life.
Keep your suspension paperwork and confirmation letter. You may need to show proof of continuous coverage when you eventually re-enroll or apply for other benefits.
Who Should Pick FEHB, TRICARE, or Both?
The right program depends on your work status, your health needs, and where you live. There is no single correct answer for every veteran federal employee.
Pick FEHB alone if you are actively working, want broad nationwide provider choice, and do not yet qualify for TRICARE. FEHB also covers family members who are not TRICARE-eligible.
Pick TRICARE alone if you are a retiree who wants to suspend FEHB and skip a second premium, and your local TRICARE network covers your usual doctors. This works well for many retirees living near military treatment facilities.
Carry both, at least temporarily, if you are still working and want FEHB's broad access now, while planning to lean on TRICARE later in retirement. Some people also keep both during a transition year to avoid any coverage gap.
Families with members who are not TRICARE-eligible, such as a spouse from a second marriage in some cases, may need to keep FEHB active just to cover that person, even if the sponsor personally prefers TRICARE.
For a broader look at coverage options across the veteran community, not just federal employees, read best health insurance for veterans.
How to Enroll or Switch
You make FEHB and TRICARE changes during set enrollment windows each year, not whenever you want. Missing the window usually means waiting until the next one.
For FEHB, enroll or change plans during federal Open Season, which runs mid-November through mid-December, or after a qualifying life event like marriage or retirement. Changes take effect the following January.
For TRICARE, enroll or change plans during TRICARE Open Season, which runs on nearly the same fall calendar as FEHB Open Season. Retirement, marriage, and other qualifying life events also open a special window outside Open Season.
If you are planning your federal retirement timeline and want to see how health coverage fits with your pension and TSP decisions, our Federal Employee Retirement guide walks through the full picture.
Always confirm your specific dates and forms directly with your HR office or the TRICARE regional contractor before your window closes.
Keep a simple checklist each fall: current provider list, expected out-of-pocket costs, and any life changes like a move or new dependent. That short review often makes the FEHB-versus-TRICARE decision much easier.
The Verdict
Most veteran federal employees do best by matching coverage to their career stage, not sticking with one plan forever. While working full-time, FEHB usually gives you the broadest network and pays first.
Once you retire from federal service and can rely on TRICARE or TRICARE For Life, suspending FEHB often saves money without giving up your right to return. That safety net is the biggest reason this decision is lower-risk than it looks.
If your health needs are complex or your local TRICARE network is thin, keeping FEHB active, even at a higher cost, can still be worth it. Review your own provider list and out-of-pocket costs before deciding.
Next Steps
Compare your plan options during Open Season before your window closes. Look at your current providers, expected medical needs, and whether suspending FEHB for TRICARE fits your retirement timeline.
Talk to your HR benefits office about the FEHB suspension form if you are TRICARE-eligible. A short conversation now can prevent a costly enrollment mistake later.