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News | Dec. 8, 2022

Continued Health Care Benefit Program Premiums Shifting to Calendar Year Cycle

By TRICARE Communications

Do you have health care coverage through the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP)? You may have noticed that your current CHCBP premium rate extended this year through Dec. 31. Why? Because the CHCBP premium rate cycle is shifting from the federal government fiscal year (Oct. 1–Sept. 30) to the calendar year (Jan. 1–Dec. 31) next year. This means that every year, any future premium rate changes will go into effect on Jan. 1. The changes will happen automatically—you won’t need to do anything.
 
“Going to a calendar year cycle aligns with other calendar year costs and fees,” said Dr. Danita Hunter, chief of TRICARE Policy and Programs. “This will make budgeting for the new year easier for CHCBP enrollees.”
 
What are the 2023 premium rates?
There’s no change for individual coverage next year. As stated in the TRICARE Costs and Fees Fact Sheet, the three-month cost remains at $1,654.00. The family quarterly rate is going up from $4,079.00 to $4,134.00. This is an increase of 1.3%.
 
Who qualifies for CHCBP?
CHCBP is available to qualified:
  • Former active duty service members
  • Family members
  • Adult children
  • Unmarried children by adoption or legal custody
  • Former spouses who haven’t remarried
 
Keep in mind that for family members to enroll, the sponsor must also enroll and purchase a family plan.
 
After you’re no longer eligible for TRICARE, CHCBP offers temporary health care coverage until you get on a civilian plan. It provides continued health coverage from 18 to 36 months. However, certain former spouses who haven’t remarried before age 55 may qualify for an unlimited length of coverage.
 
For more about eligibility, you can reach out to the CHCBP contractor, Humana Military, or go to Who qualifies for CHCBP for more details.
 
Thinking about purchasing CHCBP?
If you qualify for CHCBP, you can buy coverage within 60 days of loss of TRICARE or Transitional Assistance Management Program coverage, whichever is later. Once purchased, coverage will be backdated to the first day of your eligibility period.
 
Before you buy CHCBP, first be sure to check that your and your family members’ information is up to date in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, also known as DEERS.
 
Next, fill out the CHCBP enrollment application (DD Form 2837). You can mail or fax it to Humana Military. Check out the list of documents you may need to submit, as well.
 
TRICARE Open Season doesn’t apply to CHCBP. You can enroll in CHCBP anytime. Keep in mind, CHCBP provides the same health care coverage as TRICARE Select. It also offers the same prescription drug coverage through the TRICARE Pharmacy Program. But if you’re enrolled in CHCBP, you can’t receive care at a military hospital or clinic except in emergency situations.
 
Want to learn more about CHCBP? Humana Military can answer all your questions about enrollment, authorization, and claims processing. You can also find more info by going to Continued Health Care Benefit Program. Learn more about CHCBP costs in the TRICARE Costs and Fees Fact Sheet. You can also look up current health plan costs using TRICARE’s costs tool.
 
Would you like the latest TRICARE news sent to you by email? Visit the TRICARE Subscriptions page today, and create your personalized profile to get benefit updates, news, and more.
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