Can I keep TRICARE Prime if I move?

Yes, if Prime is offered at your new address. You have 90 days from your address change to transfer it or pick another plan.

What if there is no military hospital or clinic near my new home?

Most retirees in that case use TRICARE Select, which works anywhere.

Does TRICARE For Life change when I move?

No. It works anywhere in the U.S. as long as you keep Medicare Part A and Part B.

How long do I have to change my TRICARE plan after moving?

90 days from the date of your address change.

TRICARE when you move: Prime, Select and TRICARE For Life

Short answer

TRICARE Prime is generally available near a military hospital or clinic; farther away, most retirees use TRICARE Select. A move to a new city, region or ZIP+4 is a qualifying life event, and you have 90 days from your address change to change plans. If Prime is offered where you are going, you can transfer it; if you move somewhere Prime isn't offered, you move to Select. TRICARE For Life (once you have Medicare Part A and Part B) works wherever you live in the U.S.

Not insurance advice. Confirm with TRICARE or your regional contractor.

At a glance

Your plan	After a move
TRICARE Prime	Transfer it if Prime is offered at the new address; otherwise switch to Select within 90 days
TRICARE Select	Works worldwide; update your address
TRICARE For Life (65+, with Medicare A and B)	Works anywhere in the U.S.; update your address
Moving more than 100 miles from a Prime Service Area	You have 90 days to pick another plan before Prime ends

TRICARE Prime

Prime enrollment depends on where you live. You can enroll if you live in a Prime Service Area or within 100 miles of a network primary care manager. If you live within 30 minutes of a military hospital or clinic, you will usually be assigned a primary care manager there; farther out, the military facility decides whether it can take you, and otherwise you get a civilian network primary care manager. Source: TRICARE, TRICARE Prime enrollment.

Since 2025, retirees who live within 100 miles but more than 30 minutes from a military hospital or clinic no longer need a waiver to stay in Prime. Sources: MOAA (2025); Military.com (April 14, 2025).

TRICARE Select

Select is available worldwide, including outside Prime Service Areas. You can see any TRICARE-authorized provider; you pay more out of pocket than in Prime. If you move to a remote area, TRICARE says you disenroll from Prime and enroll in Select. Source: TRICARE, Moving: Retired Service Members and Their Family.

TRICARE For Life

Once you have Medicare Part A and Part B, TRICARE For Life is automatic and works wherever you live in the U.S. There is no TFL enrollment fee, but you pay the Medicare Part B premium. Moving does not change TFL; update your address with DEERS and Social Security. See Medicare when you move for the Medicare side. Source: TRICARE, TRICARE For Life; TRICARE newsroom, Do you need all 4 parts of Medicare for TFL.

Before you pick a town

Look up the nearest military hospital or clinic to the towns you are considering, and ask your regional contractor whether Prime is offered at the address you have in mind. Killeen (Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood) and Tacoma (Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord) are two of our retirement destinations with a military medical center close by. Source: HIFLD Hospitals dataset (federal facilities), queried October 21, 2026.

FAQ

Can I keep TRICARE Prime if I move?: Yes, if Prime is offered at your new address. You have 90 days from your address change to transfer it or pick another plan.
What if there is no military hospital or clinic near my new home?: Most retirees in that case use TRICARE Select, which works anywhere.
Does TRICARE For Life change when I move?: No. It works anywhere in the U.S. as long as you keep Medicare Part A and Part B.
How long do I have to change my TRICARE plan after moving?: 90 days from the date of your address change.

Sources

Last reviewed October 21, 2026. Not insurance advice.

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