TRICARE Open Season

TRICARE Open Season is the annual period when you can enroll in or change your health care coverage for the next year.  Enrollment changes made during TRICARE Open Season will go into effect on the following January 1.

TRICARE Open Season applies to anyone enrolled in or eligible for a TRICARE Prime option, including the US Family Health Plan (USFHP), or TRICARE Select.

You may also be eligible for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) for dental and vision coverage. This is managed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Federal Benefits Open Season has similar dates to TRICARE Open Season. Visit www.BENEFEDS.com to learn more.

Choosing Between TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select

Want to learn more about the differences between TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select? Download the slides from our recent Open Season Webinar. 

Does TRICARE Open Season Apply to Me?

Most people enrolled in or eligible for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select can make enrollment changes for next year during TRICARE Open Season. But open season doesn’t apply to everyone who uses TRICARE.  >>Learn More 

If You’re Eligible to Participate in TRICARE Open Season, You Have Three Options: 

  • Stay in your plan. If you want to stay in your current TRICARE health plan, you don’t have to re-enroll. You’ll continue in your current health plan as long as you’re eligible.
  • Enroll in a plan. If you’re eligible for a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select but not enrolled, you can enroll in a plan during TRICARE Open Season.
  • Change plans. If you’re already enrolled in a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select, you can switch plans and switch between individual and family enrollment.

Am I Eligible to Participate in TRICARE Open Season?

You’re eligible to participate if you’re currently enrolled in, or eligible for a TRICARE Prime option, including USFHP, or TRICARE Select.

Open season doesn’t apply to active duty service members. It doesn’t apply to TRICARE For Life—coverage is automatic if you have Medicare Part A and Part B. Open season also doesn’t apply to premium-based plans. You can purchase the following plans at any time throughout the year: 

If you aren't currently enrolled in a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select and would like to enroll in one of those plans, you can visit the Eligibility page to learn about TRICARE eligibility.

How Can I Enroll in a Health Plan?

You can enroll by:

You can check the TRICARE Plan Finder tool to see which plans you may be eligible to enroll in. If you need to determine what region you're in, you can visit the TRICARE Regions page.

What Happens if I Don’t Take Any Action?

If you aren’t already in a plan and don’t enroll in a plan during open season, you’ll only be eligible for care at a military hospital or clinic if space is available.

Federal Benefits Open Season

TRICARE beneficiaries may also be eligible for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), managed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Your eligibility depends on your beneficiary status. You’ll need to have coverage in a TRICARE health plan to be eligible for vision coverage.

Visit BENEFEDS.com to check eligibility, compare FEDVIP plans and rates, enroll in a plan, and more. 

Making Enrollment Changes Outside of Open Season

Outside of TRICARE Open Season, you can enroll in or change enrollment to a TRICARE Prime option or TRICARE Select following a 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 members. A TRICARE QLE opens a 90-day period for you to make eligible enrollment changes. A QLE for one family member creates an opportunity for all eligible family members to make enrollment changes. To learn more, visit www.tricare.mil/lifeevents.

Outside of the Federal Benefits Open Season, you can only enroll in FEDVIP or make changes to your existing FEDVIP plan if you experience a FEDVIP QLE. Remember, FEDVIP QLEs may be different from the TRICARE QLEs. To learn more, visit BENEFEDS.com.

Downloading TRICARE Forms

To download an enrollment form, right-click and select to "save-as" or download direct from the WHS Forms Page. For enrollment, use your region-specific DD-3043 form.

Last Updated 12/13/2023