Is TRICARE for Life the same as TRICARE Select or TRICARE Prime?


Editorial team Published on

TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Select, and TRICARE For Life are the three primary health plans offered to military members and their families, differing mainly in how care is managed, provider choice, and out-of-pocket costs. You can compare them in detail on the TRICARE Compare Plans page.

TRICARE Prime (HMO Style)

  • How it works: Works like a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). You are assigned a Primary Care Manager (PCM) at a military clinic or a civilian network provider.
  • Referrals: Required for any specialty care or visits outside your PCM.
  • Costs: Lowest out-of-pocket costs. Active duty service members and their families pay no enrollment fees or individual visit copayments for network care. Retirees pay annual enrollment fees and small copays.
  • Flexibility: Low flexibility. You must use network providers, or pay out-of-pocket for unauthorized non-network care (Point-of-Service option).

TRICARE Select (PPO Style)

  • How it works: Works like a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). You manage your own care and choose any TRICARE-authorized provider.
  • Referrals: Not required. You can see specialists directly without getting a sign-off from a PCM first.
  • Costs: Higher out-of-pocket expenses. Includes an annual deductible and per-visit cost-shares or copayments. Retirees also pay annual enrollment fees depending on when they entered service.
  • Flexibility: High flexibility. You can see any network or non-network authorized provider, though seeing non-network providers costs more.

TRICARE For Life (Medicare Wrap-Around)

  • How it works: Serves as a Medicare wrap-around coverage for military retirees and family members who are age 65 or older and have both Medicare Part A and Part B. Medicare acts as the primary payer and TRICARE acts as the secondary payer.
  • Referrals: Not required. You can visit any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare.
  • Costs: No annual enrollment fees, but you must continue to pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium. Out-of-pocket costs are very low because Medicare and TRICARE together cover most approved claims.
  • Flexibility: Highest flexibility, as long as the provider takes Medicare.