Tricare beneficiaries in the Atlanta, Georgia, and Tampa, Florida, areas have a new health care option for 2026. The CareSource Tricare Prime Demonstration program is an alternative within the Tricare Prime framework offering comprehensive managed care through CareSource Military and Veterans. Through this program, beneficiaries will receive care through the CareSource provider network instead of the Humana Military network.
Beneficiaries who would like to use this program need to make the switch during the current Tricare open enrollment season, which runs from Nov. 10, 2025, to Dec. 9, 2025, for coverage in 2026.
What’s Different?
I chatted with Ted Painter of CareSource to learn more about how care under this demonstration project will differ from other Tricare Prime options, including US Family Health Plans. Painter is the associate vice president of market operations for CareSource Military and Veterans and a sergeant major in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Read more: Costs for Tricare Are Going Up in 2026
The primary difference is that you’ll use the CareSource network of providers instead of a military treatment facility or the Humana Military Network.
“If a beneficiary’s primary care manager is currently at a military treatment facility, we will work with them to transition to a provider in our civilian network, so their care stays coordinated under this model,” Painter explained. So if you currently go to a military treatment facility, you’ll be moving care to new providers.
The CareSource project is supposed to streamline many of the frustrations with traditional Tricare. No referrals are required to see in-network specialists.
“This removes one of the biggest barriers families face when trying to get to the right provider, when and where they need them,” Painter said. Given that referrals are frequently a pain point with Tricare Prime, this may be a highly attractive benefit.
One highlighted benefit of the CareSource demonstration project is robust care management. Painter told me CareSource has “a team that helps coordinate care and follows through so issues don’t stall. You also have support on demand, including telehealth, the MyLife app, nurse advice and remote monitoring. Families receive personalized help during more complex times such as pregnancy, behavioral health needs, or recovery after a hospital stay.”
While traditional Tricare has some of these features, such as telehealth, nurse advice and case management, this program may offer them in a different way.
What About Prescriptions?
Prescription drug benefits under the demonstration remain managed by Express Scripts, aligning with the existing Tricare Pharmacy program. Beneficiaries may continue to use military pharmacies and Tricare-certified retail network pharmacies for their prescriptions.
Who Is Eligible to Choose This Program?
Eligible participants include active-duty family members, activated National Guard or Reserve family members, retirees or their family members, and eligible survivors. Geographically, eligibility is based on having a ZIP code in the Atlanta, Georgia, or Tampa, Florida area.
This demonstration program does not include active-duty service members, Tricare Young Adult, or the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP).
Costs and Fees
This program will cost the same as Tricare Prime, based on your service member’s status and Tricare group. However, enrollment fees paid by retirees, their families and survivors will be waived for the first year. This incentive may help reduce total out-of-pocket costs for care for those families who do not meet their annual catastrophic cap.
Most people like having choice in their health care options. This CareSource demonstration is another choice you have during this year’s Tricare open season. Understanding how this demonstration works can help you decide whether you’d like to switch your care for 2026 and beyond. As Painter pointed out, “We are not replacing other Tricare options. This simply gives families another way to use the benefit they have earned, depending on what fits their situation best.”
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