Who Can Change Plans, and Who Can’t

Tricare open season is the one time period each fall when beneficiaries can change health plans for the next calendar year without a qualifying life event. Any changes made during the enrollment window take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

But not every Tricare beneficiary can use it — or even needs to.

Who Open Season Covers

Open season applies to people who have, or qualify for, a Tricare Prime option or Tricare Select. Tricare includes the U.S. Family Health Plan and the Tricare Prime Demo among the Prime options.

Who It Leaves Out

Tricare says open season does not apply to five groups:

• Active-duty service members
• Tricare for Life beneficiaries
• Beneficiaries enrolled in Tricare Reserve Select
• Beneficiaries enrolled in Tricare Retired Reserve
• Beneficiaries enrolled in Tricare Young Adult

What You Can Do During the Window

Tricare lists three options. Beneficiaries can stay in their current plan, enroll in a Prime option or Select if they are eligible but not yet enrolled, or switch plans. Enrolled beneficiaries can also move between individual and family enrollment.

Related: What Is Tricare Open Season? A Guide to Enrollment

What Happens If You Do Nothing

For beneficiaries already enrolled, nothing happens if you don’t make any changes during open season. Tricare says you do not have to re-enroll, and you stay in your current plan as long as you remain eligible.

The outcome is different for an eligible beneficiary who is not enrolled in a plan. According to Tricare, that person is eligible only for care at a military hospital or clinic, and only if space is available.

How to Make a Change

Tricare offers three routes:

• Online through milConnect
• By phone through your Tricare regional contractor or designated provider
• By mail or fax, using an enrollment form sent to the regional contractor or designated provider

Tricare’s Enroll or Purchase a Plan page has the step-by-step instructions and forms.

Missing the Window

Outside open season, enrollment changes generally require a Tricare qualifying life event, which opens a 90-day window to make eligible changes. Marriage, the birth of a child and retirement from active duty count, and a qualifying event for one family member lets all eligible family members change their enrollment.

Related: What Is a Qualifying Life Event for Tricare?

Dental and Vision Run on a Separate Clock

Neither vision coverage for active-duty families nor dental and vision coverage for retirees come through Tricare open season. Both are through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), which the Office of Personnel Management manages. Its Federal Benefits Open Season is Nov. 9-Dec. 14, 2026, six days longer than Tricare’s window, with changes also effective Jan. 1, 2027, according to OPM and Tricare. Eligibility depends on beneficiary status, and vision coverage requires enrollment in a Tricare health plan.

Outside that window, changing a FEDVIP plan takes a FEDVIP qualifying life event. Tricare notes these differ in some cases from Tricare’s.

Related: FEDVIP Open Season for Military and Retiree Health Insurance

What Isn’t Posted Yet

As of Oct. 19, Tricare had not yet provided cost figures or plan changes for 2027 coverage, so beneficiaries weighing a switch couldn’t yet compare next year’s enrollment fees, deductibles or copayments.

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