An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News | June 28, 2023

Explore How TRICARE Covers Young Adults

By TRICARE Communications

Is your child a recent high school or college graduate? You might be wondering how this affects their TRICARE eligibility.
 
“Young adult family members’ TRICARE options depend on their age, student status, and a few other factors,” said Debra Fisher, TRICARE Health Plan policy and programs analyst at the Defense Health Agency. “It’s important to know what these options are so that you and your child can choose the health coverage that best fits their needs.”
 
Learn how young adult family members can use TRICARE.
 
Coverage Before Age 21 and During College
Adult children are eligible to continue in their existing TRICARE coverage until at least age 21. College students may be eligible to stay in their existing TRICARE plan until they graduate or turn age 23—whichever is sooner. They must be a full-time student at an approved institution of higher learning, and their sponsor must provide more than 50% of their financial support. Be sure to update their student status in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). If you have questions about your child’s eligibility, contact your local ID card office.
 
Moving away for college is a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event. This means the college student and other family members may be eligible to change TRICARE health plans within 90 days of the move. Don’t forget to update your student’s address in DEERS. If they’re eligible for TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select, some things to consider when choosing a plan are how far they are from home, their health needs, and costs. Visit Going to College to learn more.
 
TRICARE Young Adult Program
Most young adult children lose eligibility for regular TRICARE when they age out or graduate from college. However, they may qualify for TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) if they meet all of these criteria:
  • Unmarried adult child of an eligible uniformed service sponsor
  • At least age 21 (age 23 if a full-time student) but not yet age 26
  • Ineligible to enroll in their own employer-sponsored health plan 
  • Ineligible for other TRICARE program coverage
  • Not a member of the uniformed services
 
TYA coverage includes medical and pharmacy benefits, but it doesn’t include dental or vision benefits. How your child gets care with TYA depends on whether they enroll in TYA Prime or TYA Select. As outlined in the TRICARE Young Adult Program Fact Sheet, eligibility for these options is based on sponsor status and where the child lives. TYA has a monthly premium. Additional costs are based on whether they enroll in TYA Prime or TYA Select, their sponsor’s status, and where they receive care. To learn more about these costs, check out the TRICARE Compare Costs Tool.
 
Unlike with TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select plans, TRICARE Open Season doesn’t apply to TYA. Once children show as eligible for TYA in DEERS, they can purchase TYA coverage anytime. They can also end TYA coverage at any time. Certain changes in status, like turning age 26 or getting married, will also cause their TYA coverage to end.
 
Continued Health Care Benefit Program
Young adults may be eligible for temporary health coverage through the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) in either of these situations:
  • They lose eligibility for regular TRICARE and they don’t qualify for TYA
  • They lose eligibility for TYA
 
Adult children who choose to purchase CHCBP must do so within 60 days of losing TRICARE or TYA eligibility. CHCBP is a premium-based plan, with coverage and other costs similar to those of TRICARE Select. Check out the TRICARE Compare Costs Tool to learn more.
 
Other Coverage Options
Even if eligible for TYA or CHCBP, young adult children may have other health care coverage options. Search the Health Insurance Marketplace to find options that are in your family’s budget and meet your child’s needs. Your child may qualify for financial assistance for commercial health plans available through the Health Insurance Marketplace. They may also qualify for Medicaid coverage, depending on their status and the state they live in.
 
So before choosing a health plan, be sure to research all your options. If you’re a parent, involve your child in deciding which plan is right for them. If you have questions about your TRICARE plan options, talk to your TRICARE contractor.
 
Would you like the latest TRICARE news sent to you by email? Visit TRICARE Subscriptions, and create your personalized profile to get benefit updates, news, and more.
Man in grey shirt speaks to a doctor

Medicare and TRICARE For Life: Finding Providers

News
Aug. 14, 2025

If you have TRICARE For Life, you’ll get health care from Medicare providers. Here’s what you need to know...
Read More
A hand places white flowers on a stone grave

How a Death in the Family May Affect Your TRICAR...

News
Aug. 12, 2025

When a family member passes away, it can feel overwhelming to deal with paperwork on top of the emotional...
Read More
Female teacher leads a group of young students into school

Get Your Child Ready for the New School Year: A ...

News
Aug. 07, 2025

Getting your child’s health care needs taken care of before school starts helps ensure they’re ready to focus...
Read More
Service member pours pills into a pill counter machine

TRICARE Coverage of Weight Loss Medications: Wha...

News
Aug. 05, 2025

Understanding the difference between TRICARE plans and coverage is key to knowing what to expect when filling...
Read More
Two service members laugh together in dressed in uniform

TRICARE Coverage for National Guard and Reserve ...

News
Jul. 31, 2025

Are you or your sponsor in the National Guard or Reserve? Your health coverage changes when activating or...
Read More
Uniformed service member stands outside and holds infant in his arms.

Unlock Your Health: Check Your TRICARE Informati...

News
Jul. 29, 2025

When was the last time you looked to see if your information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting...
Read More
Uniformed service member uses mouse and keyboard, looking at desktop screen.

TRICARE Logins: Know How To Access Portals and M...

News
Jul. 24, 2025

Whether you need to make an appointment, check a claim, or download forms, knowing where to log in can make...
Read More
Service member holds a brown paper bag next to ScriptCenter automated machine.

Your TRICARE Pharmacy Program Benefit: Creating ...

News
Jul. 22, 2025

Have you recently filled a prescription at a military pharmacy? If so, you may know that military pharmacies...
Read More

Aug. 14, 2025

Medicare and TRICARE For Life: Finding Providers

If you have TRICARE For Life, you’ll get health care from Medicare providers. Here’s what you need to know about finding different types of Medicare providers.

Aug. 12, 2025

How a Death in the Family May Affect Your TRICARE Coverage

When a family member passes away, it can feel overwhelming to deal with paperwork on top of the emotional burden. This article provides a few steps you should take in the weeks following your family member’s death. Taking these steps can help ensure your coverage continues without interruption.

Aug. 7, 2025

Get Your Child Ready for the New School Year: A TRICARE Parent’s Guide

Getting your child’s health care needs taken care of before school starts helps ensure they’re ready to focus on learning. TRICARE covers the essential services that parents need to check off their back-to-school list.

Aug. 5, 2025

TRICARE Coverage of Weight Loss Medications: What To Know

Understanding the difference between TRICARE plans and coverage is key to knowing what to expect when filling your prescription. There are different rules about how TRICARE covers these drugs based on your plan.

July 31, 2025

TRICARE Coverage for National Guard and Reserve Members: Know Your Options

Are you or your sponsor in the National Guard or Reserve? Your health coverage changes when activating or deactivating. Here’s what you need to know.

July 29, 2025

Unlock Your Health: Check Your TRICARE Information in DEERS Today

When was the last time you looked to see if your information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System is up to date? If it’s been a while, it’s extremely important to take time and log in to DEERS to review or update your information.

July 24, 2025

TRICARE Logins: Know How To Access Portals and Manage Your Benefit

Whether you need to make an appointment, check a claim, or download forms, knowing where to log in can make using your TRICARE benefits easier. Today’s Military Health System relies on multiple online platforms—each with a specific purpose. Understanding them, and how they’re evolving, can help you make the most of your health coverage.

July 22, 2025

Your TRICARE Pharmacy Program Benefit: Creating a Patient-Centered Military Pharmacy Experience

Have you recently filled a prescription at a military pharmacy? If so, you may know that military pharmacies have different procedures than civilian pharmacies. When a provider issues a new prescription to a military pharmacy, you need to activate the prescription before a pharmacist fills it. Recently, the Defense Health Agency has developed and updated two tools—Q-Anywhere and ScriptCenters—to make this prescription pickup process easier and more convenient.

July 17, 2025

Unlock Your Health by Getting Virtual Health Care at Home With TRICARE

Did you know that TRICARE beneficiaries can receive a variety of health care services via virtual health? These services take place through secure video calls, phone appointments, and other technology platforms. TRICARE virtual health coverage includes primary care, urgent care, mental health, and specialty services.

July 15, 2025

New to TRICARE? Here’s How To Get Started With Your Benefit

Have you recently enlisted in or received a commission to a uniformed service? Or, have you just married a uniformed service member? If you’re new to TRICARE, you may have some questions about how to enroll in a plan, get care, and learn more about your coverage.