TRICARE Select is a self-managed, preferred provider organization (PPO) healthcare plan that lets qualified military beneficiaries visit any TRICARE-authorized doctor, hospital, or specialist without a referral for most care. You pay an annual deductible alongside fixed copayments or percentage cost-shares for each visit, while military retirees also pay an annual enrollment fee. You must enroll before coverage starts.
What TRICARE Select Is and How It Works
Under TRICARE Select, you can schedule appointments directly with any TRICARE-authorized healthcare provider without requesting permission from a primary care manager. You have two distinct categories of authorized providers to choose from: network providers and non-network providers. Network providers cost you a fixed copay per visit. Non-network providers cost a percentage of the TRICARE-allowable charge.
Non-network authorized providers divide into participating and non-participating professionals. Under official rules for non-network care, non-participating providers may charge up to 15% above the TRICARE-allowable charge, and the beneficiary pays that extra amount out of pocket in addition to regular cost-shares.
What TRICARE Select Costs in 2026
Out-of-pocket costs for TRICARE Select depend on your sponsor's military status, pay grade, and their initial enlistment or appointment date. TRICARE splits beneficiaries into Group A and Group B. Group A includes beneficiaries whose military sponsor entered active duty or joined an armed service before January 1, 2018. Group B includes beneficiaries whose military sponsor entered service on or after January 1, 2018. Preventive care services remain $0 for every group, whether you see an in-network provider or an out-of-network provider. TRICARE publishes the full rates in its TRICARE Select cost tables.
Active-duty family members pay no annual enrollment fees under TRICARE Select, but they do pay an annual deductible. Network visits cost a fixed copay, and non-network visits cost 20% of the allowable charge. A catastrophic cap limits the maximum out-of-pocket costs your family can pay for covered medical care during a single calendar year.
| Cost Element (2026) | Active Duty Families (Group A) | Active Duty Families (Group B) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Enrollment Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Annual Deductible (E-1 to E-4) | $50 individual / $100 family | $66 individual / $132 family |
| Annual Deductible (E-5 and above) | $150 individual / $300 family | $198 individual / $397 family |
| Catastrophic Cap | $1,000 per family | $1,324 per family |
| Primary Care Copay (Network) | $28 | $19 |
| Specialty Care Copay (Network) | $39 | $33 |
| Urgent Care Copay (Network) | $28 | $26 |
| Emergency Room Copay (Network) | $103 | $52 |
| Ambulance Ground Copay (Network) | $88 | $19 |
| Non-Network Cost-Share | 20% of allowable charge | 20% of allowable charge |
| Inpatient Admission (Network) | $24.50 per day or $25 per admission (higher) | $79 per admission |
Military retirees and their families face different billing rules under TRICARE Select. Retirees pay an annual enrollment fee. Group B retirees pay higher enrollment fees and higher annual deductibles than Group A retirees. The annual catastrophic cap for retirees is also higher than the cap for active-duty families.
| Cost Element (2026) | Retirees and Families (Group A) | Retirees and Families (Group B) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Enrollment Fee | $186.96 individual / $375 family | $594.96 individual / $1,191 family |
| Annual Deductible (Network) | $150 individual / $300 family | $198 individual / $397 family |
| Annual Deductible (Non-Network) | $150 individual / $300 family | $397 individual / $794 family |
| Catastrophic Cap | $4,381 per family | $4,635 per family |
| Primary Care Copay (Network) | $38 | $33 |
| Specialty Care Copay (Network) | $52 | $52 |
| Urgent Care Copay (Network) | $38 | $52 |
| Emergency Room Copay (Network) | $138 | $105 |
| Ambulance Ground Copay (Network) | $117 | $79 |
| Non-Network Cost-Share | 25% of allowable charge | 25% of allowable charge |
| Inpatient Admission (Network) | $250/day or 25% hospital charge (lesser) + 20% separate services | $231 per admission |
Eligibility Rules for TRICARE Select
TRICARE Select covers active-duty family members, military retirees and their eligible family members, survivors of deceased service members, Medal of Honor recipients and their families, and qualified former spouses.
At Rank and Pay, what we see readers get wrong most often is assuming that seeing any doctor without a referral means every doctor costs the same amount. A non-network provider costs a percentage of the TRICARE-allowable charge instead of a fixed copay, and a non-participating one can bill up to 15% above that charge. Sticking with in-network civilian doctors keeps your out-of-pocket expenses anchored to predictable copayments.
Certain military populations cannot use this plan. Active-duty service members, including activated National Guard and Reserve members, cannot enroll in TRICARE Select.
Finding Network Providers and Managing Pre-Authorizations
TRICARE splits the U.S. into two regions, each run by a regional contractor. East Region operations are managed by Humana Military, while West Region administration is handled by TriWest Healthcare Alliance.
Referrals are not required for most primary and specialty healthcare appointments under TRICARE Select. You can research a specialist online, pick an in-network clinic, and book your visit directly. However, some services require pre-authorization from your regional contractor before you receive treatment.
For pre-authorization questions, the TRICARE contact page lists how to reach your regional office.
Coverage Comparisons Across Other Military Plans
TRICARE Select covers the exact same medical services as TRICARE Prime, differing only in how you access providers and what you pay at each appointment. Both programs provide the full slate of TRICARE covered services.
TRICARE Select functions like a PPO, eliminating referrals in exchange for deductibles and per-visit copayments. Our TRICARE Prime vs TRICARE Select comparison lays out the referral and cost differences, and our TRICARE Prime guide explains primary care managers.
Other military healthcare programs serve specific beneficiary needs and duty statuses across the armed forces:
- Review our TRICARE Reserve Select guide for drilling National Guard and Reserve personnel seeking premium-based coverage when not mobilized.
- Read our TRICARE For Life explainer for Medicare-eligible military retirees.
- Consult our TRICARE plans overview for a side-by-side breakdown of active, reserve, and retiree coverage paths.
- Examine regional contractor responsibilities in our TRICARE East vs TRICARE West analysis.
- Evaluate private supplemental policies in our TRICARE supplement insurance breakdown.
- Explore voluntary dental enrollment through our TRICARE Dental Program guide.
Open Season Rules and Enrollment Steps
TRICARE Open Season 2026 runs from November 9 to December 8, 2026, and changes take effect January 1, 2027. Review official enrollment timelines on the TRICARE Open Season page. If you are already enrolled in TRICARE Select and do nothing during Open Season, you stay in your plan automatically for 2027 as long as you maintain military eligibility.
Outside Open Season, you can enroll or switch coverage only after experiencing a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). Examples include marriage, the birth of a child, and retiring from active duty. A QLE opens a 90-day window to make the change. You can complete your enrollment through three established methods:
- Enroll online through milConnect.
- Call your regional contractor directly to process your plan selection over the phone.
- Download, print, and submit a completed enrollment form by mail or fax to your regional contractor by following the TRICARE Select enrollment instructions.
Beneficiaries Who Should Choose Other Coverage
TRICARE Select does not fit active-duty service members or drilling reservists who require alternative military healthcare programs. Active-duty service members use TRICARE Prime. Drilling members of the Selected Reserve who are not on active duty should enroll in TRICARE Reserve Select rather than standard TRICARE Select. Medicare-eligible retirees use TRICARE For Life.
If you want the flexibility to see civilian doctors without specialist referrals, check your eligibility in milConnect today, then search your region's network through Humana Military (East) or TriWest (West) before you enroll.