TRICARE, Your Military Health Plan

Activating

National Guard or Reserve members are "activated" once they are called to active duty for more than 30 consecutive days under Federal orders. After activating, you and your family are eligible for TRICARE health benefits, including prescription drug coverage.

Health Plan Options
When you reach your final duty station, you'll enroll in one of the TRICARE Prime options:

• TRICARE Prime
• TRICARE Prime Remote
• TRICARE Prime Overseas
• TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas

Your family may be able to enroll in these Prime options or they can use TRICARE Standard and Extra. Medicare-eligible family members may also qualify for TRICARE For Life.  

Dental Coverage
There are some changes to National Guard and Reserve member dental coverage when activated. >>Learn More

Family members are eligible for the TRICARE Dental Program at active duty family member rates. If you enrolled before your sponsor was activated, you can stay enrolled. Your premium rates will be reduced to active duty family member rates.

To verify your eligibility at any time, visit the Reserve Component Purchased TRICARE Application.

Pre-Activation Benefit
The TRICARE pre-activation benefit provides "early" eligibility for TRICARE when you are issued delayed-effective-date orders for more than 30 consecutive days in support of a contingency operation.

If you meet the early eligibility requirements:

• TRICARE covers you for up to 180 days before you report to active duty.
• Your coverage includes pharmacy and dental care.
• Your family members are also covered during this pre-activation period.
• Your benefits will continue when you begin serving on active duty.

If you do not meet early eligibility requirements, you and your family's coverage will begin on the first day of your orders.

Are you covered by TRICARE Reserve Select?
When the sponsor becomes eligible for other TRICARE coverage when activated, including during the pre-activation period, TRICARE Reserve Select coverage ends. Any premium amounts already paid for periods beyond the end date will be refunded. You may re-purchase TRICARE Reserve Select when you are deactivated, if you qualify.

Do you have family members enrolled in TRICARE Young Adult?
As long as the sponsor remains eligible for TRICARE coverage, either TRICARE Reserve Select or active duty benefits, children may remain enrolled in TRICARE Young Adult with no changes in coverage.

Last Modified: March 7, 2012