2026 TRICARE Dental Costs Increase in March
TRICARE Dental Program monthly premiums increase on March 1, 2026, marking the start of a new coverage year through February 28, 2027.
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) updates these rates annually to reflect market costs for TRICARE Dental, a voluntary benefit for qualifying military families and National Guard or Reserve troops. But the updates don’t take effect at the same time as other rate updates on January 1 of each year. Instead, these rates are updated in March of every year.
Cost Increase for TRICARE Dental
Plan costs depend on the sponsor’s military status, pay grade, and enrollment type. For the 2026–2027 period, every tier of the program gets a TRICARE price increase, including active duty family members, Selected Reserve members, and Individual Ready Reservists.
Who Pays More?
Active duty family members pay different rates based on the sponsor’s rank. For sponsors in pay grades E-4 and below, the monthly premium for a single family member rises from $8.65 to $8.79.
If the family enrolls more than one person, the rate moves from $22.48 to $22.85. For sponsors in pay grades E-5 and above, a single enrollment costs $11.72 monthly, up from $11.53. The family plan for this tier rises from $29.98 to $30.47 per month.
Guard and Reserve TRICARE Dental Cost Increases
Members of the National Guard and Selected Reserve also pay more. For these groups, the sponsor-only premium matches the single TRICARE Dental rate for active-duty family members: $8.79 for E-4 and below and $11.72 for E-5 and above.
However, if these members enroll a single family member, the price goes to $29.30. A family enrollment for these groups increases from $74.94 to $76.18. A combined plan for the sponsor and family now costs $84.97 for lower enlisted ranks and $87.90 for those E-5 and above.
Individuals in the Individual Ready Reserve who are not mobilized pay the highest premiums. The government does not provide the same level of subsidies to this group. For these members, the sponsor-only or single-family member rate increases from $28.82 to $29.30. A family plan rises to $76.18. A combined sponsor and family plan costs $105.48, up from $103.76.
How TRICARE Dental Works
The program operates on a pay-ahead basis, and payments deducted or paid in February 2026 are applied for the month of March. Enrollees typically pay through a military payroll allotment. If an allotment is not possible, beneficiaries use electronic funds transfer, credit cards, or debit cards to maintain coverage.
Certain aspects of the TRICARE Dental Program remain stable despite the rising premiums. The annual benefit maximum stays at $1,500 per person. The lifetime orthodontic maximum remains $1,750 per person.
The annual maximum for dental accidents also stays at $1,200. The program still covers diagnostic and preventive services, such as cleanings and exams, at no additional cost when using an in-network dentist.
Retirees and their families use the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program instead of the TRICARE Dental Program. This program offers a range of plans from various carriers. Users choose between high and standard coverage options.
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About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
