If beneficiaries don\u2019t make changes now, the next chance is open season next year or a qualifying life event such as a birth.<\/p>\n
This open season also includes a new option for beneficiaries in the Atlanta, Georgia, and Tampa, Florida, metropolitan areas through a demonstration project<\/a> that provides a Tricare Prime option that doesn\u2019t require referrals to in-network specialists. Find more details below.<\/p>\n The new coverage or changes in coverage made during open season for Tricare and other federal programs take effect Jan. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n Beneficiaries can check if their information is up to date <\/b>in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System online at tricare.mil.deers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Those who are satisfied with their health care plan don\u2019t need to take action. <\/p>\n Tricare open season applies to those currently enrolled in or eligible for Tricare Prime, Tricare Prime Remote, U.S. Family Health Plan, Tricare Prime Demonstration Project, Tricare Prime Overseas, Tricare Prime Remote Overseas, Tricare Select and Tricare Select Overseas. <\/p>\n The open season doesn\u2019t apply to individual active-duty service members or beneficiaries enrolled in Tricare for Life, where coverage is automatic for those who have Medicare Part A and Part B.<\/p>\n Those eligible for the premium-based plans \u2014 Tricare Reserve Select, Tricare Retired Reserve and Tricare Young Adult \u2014 can purchase the plans at any time of the year.<\/p>\n RELATED Monday, Dec. 8:<\/b> The Federal Benefits Open Season ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Those eligible in the military community can enroll in dental coverage and vision coverage through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, or FEDVIP. Visit www.benefeds.gov<\/a> for more information and to enroll. This open season ends a day earlier than the Tricare open season.<\/p>\n Monday, Dec. 8:<\/b> As part of the Federal Benefits Open Season, service members can enroll in tax-savings <\/b>accounts: a health care flexible spending account and a dependent care flexible spending account. These pre-tax accounts allow troops to set aside up to $3,400 in 2026 to pay for health care costs that Tricare doesn\u2019t cover. Dependent care flexible spending accounts help defray the costs of child care and other dependent care. The Internal Revenue Service allows individuals to set aside up to $7,500 per year for dependent care costs if they are married and file a joint tax return or if they file as single or head of household. Visit fsafeds.gov<\/a> for more information and to enroll. <\/p>\n Previous participation in <\/b>these flexible spending programs doesn\u2019t automatically carry over, meaning individuals must must enroll each year. <\/p>\n New Tricare Prime demo starts in 2026<\/p>\n Roughly 150,000 Tricare beneficiaries living in the Atlanta, Georgia, and Tampa, Florida, metropolitan areas will have a new Tricare Prime option next year through a demonstration project being conducted by the Defense Health Agency. <\/p>\n Those interested must enroll during open season. For more information and to enroll, visit enrolltricare.com<\/a>, or call 877-996-9333 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Those eligible can also enroll through the web enrollment portal at milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil<\/a> by searching for Tricare Prime demo.<\/p>\n Information was not available about how many beneficiaries have signed up to date for the demonstration project.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/JCTKKZDFGZCA5C73DIP2FYZO4E.jpg\")
Dental, vision and tax-saving accounts<\/p>\n