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Military & veteran money

As of Oct. 21, 2026

Short answer: this is VaultRubric's one-stop page for service members, veterans, retirees and families. Pick your topic below. Coming up: TRICARE Open Season starts Nov. 9, 2026; the 3.6% retired pay COLA lands in the Dec. 31, 2026 payment; 2027 BAH rates usually post in mid-December. Every number links to the official source.

Pick a topic

TSP basics: limits, BRS match, funds and fees2026 limit $24,500 (2027 not announced yet). BRS: 1% automatic + up to 4% match. Fees 0.034%-0.051%.
BAH by ZIP (2026 DoD rates)Look up your 2026 housing allowance by duty ZIP, pay grade and dependents. 2027 rates usually post mid-December.
VA home loan: entitlement, funding fee, COE$0 down with full entitlement, no monthly mortgage insurance, funding fee 0.5%-3.3%, how to get your COE.
TRICARE Open Season: Nov. 9 - Dec. 8, 2026Switch Prime or Select, or individual and family enrollment, for Jan. 1, 2027.
FEDVIP dental and vision 2027Open Season Nov. 9 - Dec. 14, 2026 (OPM). Premiums, who can enroll, how to compare.
2027 retiree and VA COLA: 3.6%Retired pay rises Dec. 1 (paid Dec. 31). VA disability needs Congress to pass the COLA bill.
Military car buying: rebates + out-the-door checkFord, GM, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, Jeep military offers, plus doc fee, add-on and rate-markup checks.
Military pay chart 2026Basic pay by grade and years of service.
Military retirement pay calculatorHigh-3 and BRS formulas, SBP cost, the Dec. 1 COLA.
VA disability rates 2026Monthly compensation by rating and dependents.
SCRA and MLA loan protections6% rate cap on pre-service debt, 36% MAPR cap while on active duty.
GI Bill rates 2026-27Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bill payment amounts.

Key dates

Date	What happens	Source
Nov. 9 - Dec. 8, 2026	TRICARE Open Season (Prime/Select changes for 2027)	Federal Register
Nov. 9 - Dec. 14, 2026	FEDVIP dental and vision Open Season	OPM
Dec. 1, 2026	3.6% retired pay COLA takes effect	DoD
Dec. 31, 2026	First retired pay at the new rate (SBP annuitants: Jan. 4, 2027)	DFAS
Mid-December (usually)	2027 BAH rates released, effective Jan. 1, 2027	DoD BAH page

Show the math

Retired pay COLA: $2,000 a month × 3.6% = $72.00 more, so $2,072.00 a month (see the COLA page for your own number).
TSP cost: $100,000 in the C Fund × 0.035% (2025 expense ratio) = $35 a year.

Next step: See your 2027 retired pay · Check your TRICARE choices before Dec. 8 · Check a car deal

Sources

Federal Register 2026-19115: TRICARE changes for 2027 (Sept. 18, 2026)
OPM: Federal Benefits Open Season (FEDVIP) (read Oct. 21, 2026)
DoD Military Compensation: Retirement COLA (read Oct. 21, 2026)
DFAS: retired and annuitant pay schedule (updated Sept. 16, 2026)
TSP: expenses and fees (2025 expense ratios) (read Oct. 21, 2026)

Facts and arithmetic from official sources, not financial, legal or investment advice. VaultRubric is not part of DoD, VA, TRICARE or OPM. This page has no partner links.

FAQ

When is TRICARE Open Season for 2027?

Nov. 9 through Dec. 8, 2026 (Federal Register, Sept. 18, 2026). Changes start Jan. 1, 2027.

How much is the 2027 military retiree COLA?

3.6%, effective Dec. 1, 2026, the same as Social Security's 2027 COLA. Retirees see it in the Dec. 31, 2026 payment.

When do 2027 BAH rates come out?

DoD usually releases BAH rates in mid-December; the 2026 rates came out Dec. 11, 2025 and took effect Jan. 1, 2026.

Estimates, not financial advice. Taxes, insurance, PMI and fees vary by lender, county and city; confirm with your lender, dealer and state agency before acting.