TRICARE 2026 Costs: Rx Copays Up 16%, Fees Up 2.8%
Last Updated: July 5, 2026
TRICARE 2026 costs are set, and the biggest percentage increase isn't an enrollment fee. It's the mail-order brand-name pharmacy copay, up 15.8%. Here is every verified 2026 number for retirees, straight from the Defense Health Agency's official cost preview, including the Group A versus Group B distinction most articles get wrong.
Pharmacy Copays: The Real 2026 Increase
The FY2018 NDAA set the copay schedule, and the 2026 step is locked in place through December 31, 2027, a two-year freeze.
Home delivery (mail order, up to 90 days):
| Tier | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generic | $13 | $14 | +7.7% |
| Brand-name | $38 | $44 | +15.8% |
| Non-formulary | $76 | $85 | +11.8% |
Retail network (up to 30 days):
| Tier | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generic | $16 | $16 | 0% |
| Brand-name | $43 | $48 | +11.6% |
| Non-formulary | $76 | $85 | +11.8% |
Military pharmacies stay at $0 for every tier.
The math still favors mail order, hard. A brand-name maintenance drug filled by 90-day mail costs $44 per fill, $176 a year. The same drug at retail runs $48 twelve times, $576 a year. One switched prescription saves $400 a year.
2026 Enrollment Fees: Know Your Group First
Your group follows the sponsor's service-entry date: before January 1, 2018 is Group A, on or after is Group B. Since a 2018 entrant can't be retired yet outside disability cases, almost every current retiree is Group A.
Group A retiree fees (the typical case):
| Plan | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime, individual | $372.00 | $381.96 | +2.7% |
| Prime, family | $744.00 | $765.00 | +2.8% |
| Select, individual | $181.92 | $186.96 | +2.8% |
| Select, family | $364.92 | $375.00 | +2.8% |
Group A vs Group B (2026):
| Plan | Group A | Group B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime, individual | $381.96 | $462.96 | +$81 |
| Prime, family | $765.00 | $927.00 | +$162 |
| Select, individual | $186.96 | $594.96 | +$408 |
| Select, family | $375.00 | $1,191.00 | +$816 |
When an article quotes "$1,191 for TRICARE Select family," it's quoting the Group B rate at today's retirees, who mostly pay $375. Check the group before you panic.
Catastrophic Caps and TYA
The catastrophic cap is your annual out-of-pocket ceiling. It counts enrollment fees but not premiums, and it resets every January 1.
| Beneficiary | Group A | Group B |
|---|---|---|
| Retirees and family | $3,000 (Prime) / $4,381 (Select) | $4,635 |
| Active-duty family | $1,000 | $1,324 |
Note the quiet Prime advantage: the Group A Prime cap held at $3,000 while the Select cap rose to $4,381. A high-utilization Group A retiree has a $1,381 lower ceiling on Prime.
TRICARE Young Adult (dependents 21 to 26) rose faster than anything but pharmacy: TYA-Prime is $794/month (+9.2%) and TYA-Select $363/month (+7.7%). TYA follows Group B cost rules regardless of the sponsor's group.
TRICARE For Life at 65: Free Plan, Real Bill
TFL has no enrollment fee. Its cost is the Medicare Part B premium it requires:
| Item | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Part B premium (monthly, standard) | $185.00 | $202.90 |
| Part B premium (annual) | $2,220 | $2,434.80 |
| Part B deductible | $257 | $283 |
Higher incomes pay IRMAA surcharges on top, from $284.10 up to $689.90 monthly at the top tier, based on your tax return from two years back. A two-retiree household above the thresholds pays it twice. Postal and federal retirees weighing the same Part B question can run the PSHB Part B Calculator.
The Dual-Eligible Fed: The $7,492 Gap
A military retiree working as a federal civilian qualifies for both TRICARE and FEHB. The 2026 premium comparison is lopsided:
| Coverage | 2026 annual enrollee cost |
|---|---|
| TRICARE Select, Group A family | $375 |
| TRICARE Prime, Group A family | $765 |
| FEHB average Self & Family (enrollee share) | ≈ $7,867 |
| FEHB average Self Plus One (enrollee share) | ≈ $7,191 |
That's a ~$7,492 per year gap between Select family coverage and average FEHB family premiums, and FEHB enrollee shares rose 12.3% for 2026, the second straight double-digit year.
Four mechanics make the decision work:
- Suspend FEHB, never cancel. Suspension preserves your right to re-enroll at any Open Season or qualifying life event. Cancellation can close the door for retirement.
- Suspended time still counts toward the FEHB 5-year rule. Time covered by TRICARE while FEHB is suspended counts toward the 5 years needed to carry FEHB into federal retirement.
- Holding both means paying twice for wrap-around. TRICARE is by law the last payer behind other insurance, so double-covered feds pay two premiums while TRICARE only picks up FEHB's cost-shares.
- Dental comes from FEDVIP either way. Retirees aren't eligible for the active-duty dental program, so BENEFEDS covers dental and vision regardless of which health plan you pick.
The full decision framework, including when FEHB wins (spouse coverage needs, provider networks, the age-65 pivot), is in our companion guide to the TRICARE vs FEHB choice for military retiree feds.
Calculate Your TRICARE vs FEHB Numbers
Use our free TRICARE vs FEHB Calculator to compare your actual plans side by side, premiums plus expected out-of-pocket, instead of deciding on averages. The FEHB Premium Calculator prices specific FEHB plans if you're weighing which one to suspend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the 2026 pharmacy copays going up again in 2027?
No. The current schedule is locked from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027.
I saw $1,191 quoted for Select family coverage. Is that right?
Only for Group B, meaning sponsors who entered service on or after January 1, 2018. Current retirees are almost universally Group A and pay $375.
Does the catastrophic cap include my enrollment fee?
Yes, enrollment fees count toward the cap. Premiums like TYA's monthly premium do not.
Is TRICARE For Life really free?
The plan has no fee, but you must carry Medicare Part B, which costs $202.90 a month standard in 2026 and more under IRMAA. That premium is TFL's real price.
If I suspend FEHB to use TRICARE, do I lose FEHB in retirement?
No, that's the point of suspending instead of canceling. Your TRICARE-covered time counts toward the 5-year rule, and you can reactivate FEHB at a future Open Season.
Related Resources
- TRICARE vs FEHB Calculator: Side-by-side cost comparison for dual-eligibles.
- TRICARE vs FEHB for Military Retiree Feds: The full suspend-or-keep decision framework.
- PSHB Part B Calculator: The Medicare Part B math for postal employees.
- FEHB Premium Calculator: Price specific 2026 FEHB plans.
Sources: DHA TRICARE 2026 Costs and Fees Preview, TRICARE pharmacy copay FAQ, CMS 2026 Medicare Part B fact sheet, OPM 2026 premium data, MOAA.