Like tectonic plates, TRICARE is shifting again. If you’re a military spouse or family member trying to keep track of what’s changing and what it means for your family’s actual care, it might feel like a 7.5 earthquake. Between coverage adjustments in 2025 and the launch of a new demonstration project in 2026, the headlines may not always clearly explain how these moves impact day-to-day access, costs, and peace of mind. However, this community has been addressing this issue for a long time.
Related: 6 dumb things I thought I knew about the military before joining
So let’s break it down, in plain language, from the perspective of the people who will feel it most: the families.
What Changed in 2025
Some changes already hit in 2025. TRICARE Young Adult coverage now ends at age 21 unless a dependent is a full-time student, in which case it stretches to age 23. Survivors of deceased service members gained additional benefits, including more time in Prime and extended access to transitional coverage.
TRICARE regions also shifted. If your address placed you under a new regional contractor, you may have noticed differences in customer service, networks, or claims processing. Those changes are structural, but the next round is about choice.
Coming in 2026: The TRICARE Prime Demonstration
Beginning in January 2026, the Defense Health Agency is launching a pilot program in two metro areas: Tampa, Florida, and Atlanta, Georgia. This program, formally called the TRICARE Prime Demonstration, allows eligible dependents to opt into coverage administered by CareSource Military & Veterans (CSMV), rather than the standard regional contractor.
This doesn’t replace TRICARE Prime nationwide. It’s not even automatic for families in those regions. You must enroll in the demo to participate, and enrollment opens during TRICARE’s annual open season.
The goal is to test whether a different contractor can offer improved access and expanded support services while maintaining the same high levels of care, all while adhering to the Prime cost structure. But many families are understandably cautious when they hear the words “pilot” or “demonstration.”
Will they still be covered in the event of an emergency? Can they see their existing providers? Will it cost more?
Emergency Care Under the Demo: What Families Need to Know
This is where intricacy matters most. Some reporting has left families confused about how emergency care will work if they opt into the new demo. Let’s be specific:
If you think it’s an emergency, go to the nearest ER, military or civilian, immediately. No referral or pre-authorization is required.
That’s true under traditional TRICARE Prime; it remains true for CareSource enrollees in the demo as well. Even if the emergency department is out of network, you will be covered at the standard Prime cost-share, as long as the visit meets TRICARE’s definition of an emergency.
The process of filing claims or following up on bills remains the same. CSMV may administer the plan, but it follows the same emergency care rules as the broader TRICARE Prime program.
Why CareSource? Why now?
CareSource isn’t new to managed care by any means. It has a long history with Medicaid within veteran populations and is now being tested in military health. The 2026 demo presents an opportunity for the Defense Health Agency to assess alternative approaches to managing care while preserving existing benefits within its areas of operation.
For families, this could mean better support, more streamlined customer service, and access to providers who may not currently be part of TRICARE’s traditional network. But these are potential benefits, not promises; it’s up to each family to weigh whether opting in makes sense.
What Doesn’t Change
Your DEERS enrollment still governs eligibility. Your Prime copays, along with cost-sharing, remain consistent whether you choose standard TRICARE Prime or join the demonstration. Your right to emergency care doesn’t simply vanish either. Your ability to return to regular Prime? Not a problem if done during future open seasons; this remains in effect.
What to Watch For
If you live in Tampa or Atlanta and receive notice that you’re eligible for the demo, read it carefully. Compare what’s being offered against what you already use. If you have specialists you depend on, call them directly to see if they’re part of the demo network. There are no referrals for in-network specialists. If you join the CareSource Prime Demonstration and your current specialist is out-of-network, CareSource has a team that will work with your specialist to bring them in-network.
Most importantly, CareSource will cover a beneficiary’s out-of-network fees to continue seeing the specialist over the first 90 days, ensuring the beneficiary has a seamless experience, while CSMV handles the lift in the background.
Now, if you still have questions, press for answers from TRICARE, CareSource, or your local military treatment facility; they will be there for you.
Health care isn’t just about policies; it’s about trust. That’s especially true for families managing moves, deployments, plus everything in between. The 2026 TRICARE changes aren’t seismic, but they are significant. Knowing the facts and being prepared before making a choice is the best decision you can make for your care.
