Disenrolling from TRICARE Prime
You don't have to re-enroll every year to continue TRICARE Prime coverage, but certain events will cause you to be disenrolled.
Sponsor Status Change
Any change in the sponsor's status (e.g., active duty to retired, Guard/Reserve deactivation) will cause an automatic disenrollment. If you're still eligible for TRICARE Prime after the status change, you can:
- Re-enroll in TRICARE Prime
- You can re-enroll before the status change occurs to avoid a lapse in coverage.
Note: When an active duty service member retires, he/she will be required to pay annual enrollment fees to re-enroll in TRICARE Prime.
Voluntary Disenrollment
- Active duty service members can't disenroll from TRICARE Prime.
- All others can choose to disenroll at any time. If you don't enroll in another plan, such as TRICARE Select, you'll only be able to receive care at military hospitals and clinics if space is available, and you will only be eligible for pharmacy benefits at military pharmacies.
You can disenroll from TRICARE Prime via:
- Web: Log into the Beneficiary Web Enrollment Portal
- Phone: Call your regional contractor.
- East: 1-800-444-5445
- West:1-844-866-9378
- Overseas: Call the Regional Call Center for your overseas area
- Mail:
Non-Payment of Enrollment Fees
If you don't pay your TRICARE Prime enrollment fees (if applicable), the TRICARE contractor will disenroll you. You have 90 days from the date you were disenrolled to catch up on any missed payments. If you do this, you won’t have a break in coverage. If you don't catch up on missed payments within 90 days, you won’t have TRICARE coverage. You can’t re-enroll in TRICARE Prime or enroll in any other plan until the next TRICARE Open Season or until you have a qualifying life event.Loss of Eligibility
If you lose eligibility for TRICARE, your TRICARE Prime coverage will automatically end.
- You may qualify for continued health coverage under the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP)
- If you don't qualify for TAMP, you can purchase temporary coverage through the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP).
- You're not required to purchase the CHCBP. Instead you may use employer’s sponsored health insurance, Medicaid or any other plan offered through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
- When you become eligible for Medicare on your 65th birthday, you are no longer able to enroll in TRICARE Prime. If you have both Medicare Part A & B, you can use TRICARE For Life.
Last Updated 5/24/2024