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 | Aug. 1, 2024

TRICARE Coverage for Your Children: What You Need To Know

By TRICARE Communications

Are you wondering if your child has TRICARE coverage? Most children of service members and retirees can get TRICARE until they turn age 21 (or 23 if they’re in college).

“TRICARE is committed to ensuring our military families have access to quality health care,” said Shane Pham, an analyst with TRICARE Policy and Programs at the Defense Health Agency. “We encourage all service members and retirees to promptly register your children in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System and understand what their TRICARE options are. Taking care of these steps early means uninterrupted health coverage for your kids.”

Want to know more about children and TRICARE coverage? Read on.

Who’s eligible?

TRICARE coverage for children is broad, but there are specific rules about who qualifies. All children qualified must be unmarried, and there are three main groups of children eligible for TRICARE:

  • Biological children
  • Adopted children
  • Stepchildren

These children are eligible for TRICARE until they turn age 21. Alternatively, if they’re in college full-time, they can keep TRICARE coverage until they’re 23 or out of school, whichever comes first. See Going to College for specific details on qualified student status. An exception is children with severe disabilities, who may be able to keep TRICARE beyond these age limits.

New child in the family? It’s a Qualifying Life Event

Adding a child to your family is a big change—and is a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event. According to the TRICARE Qualifying Life Events Fact Sheet, a QLE for one family member means all family members may make enrollment changes during the QLE period. Here’s what you need to know about QLEs and kids:

  • Birth: Giving birth is a QLE. When your baby is born, you have 90 days (120 days if you live overseas) to register them in DEERS.
  • Adoption: Adopting a child is also a QLE. Your 90-day window to add your child to a TRICARE plan starts on the day the adoption is final.
  • Foster children: When you become a foster parent, it’s not automatically a QLE. However, if you’re named as the legal guardian, it becomes a QLE.
  • Stepchildren: Marrying someone with children is a QLE. You can add your new stepchildren to your TRICARE plan within 90 days of the marriage.
  • Legal guardianship: If you’re granted legal guardianship of a child, it’s a QLE. Your 90-day window starts when the guardianship becomes official.

During these 90-day periods, you can add the child to your current plan, or change the new child’s coverage to a different TRICARE plan, if eligible.

Be sure to sign up on time. If you don’t sign up on time:

  • Your child won’t show as TRICARE-eligible.
  • TRICARE will deny claims for your child after 90 days (or 120 days if overseas).

How to get TRICARE for your child

TRICARE makes it easy for you to start the process of getting coverage for your child.

First, register your child in the DEERS. You don’t need a Social Security number to register your child, but remember to update DEERS as soon as you have their SSN. Remember, registration in DEERS doesn’t mean your child is enrolled in TRICARE. After registration in DEERS, the next step is to choose a TRICARE health plan and enroll your child. You need to do both steps to ensure your child is in a TRICARE health plan.

For some, enrollment might be automatic, depending on your status and where you live.

If you’re an active duty service member, your child will automatically get enrolled in a TRICARE plan when you sign them up in DEERS.  In most cases, for stateside active duty families:

  • Your child is automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime if living in a Prime Service Area.
  • If living outside of a Prime Service Area, your child is automatically enrolled in TRICARE Select.

However, even if your child is automatically enrolled in a TRICARE plan, you can choose a different plan (if eligible) during the QLE period.

If you’re retired, you must choose a plan and enroll your child yourself.

Use the TRICARE Plan Finder tool to help yourself choose the right plan for you and your family. You can find more information about enrollment on TRICARE.mil.

Coverage for adult children

When your child turns age 21 (or 23 if they’re in college), they might still need health insurance. That’s where TRICARE Young Adult comes in.

TYA lets adult children of TRICARE-eligible sponsors keep their TRICARE coverage until they turn age 26. It’s a premium-based plan that offers the same TRICARE coverage they’ve been used to with TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select.

To get TYA, your child must not be married; not be eligible for their own employer-sponsored health coverage; and not be in the Uniformed Services themselves.

If your child is nearing the age limit for regular TRICARE, you may want to explore TRICARE Young Adult to keep them covered. Has your child recently graduated from college? They may still be eligible for TYA. To learn more, check out the TRICARE Newsroom article, “Recent Graduate? Learn How TRICARE Covers Young Adults.”

Don’t wait to get your young adult covered. Sign them up as soon as you can to make sure they have the health care they need.

Taking care of your child’s health should be a top priority. By understanding TRICARE’s rules for children, you can ensure your kids have the coverage they need as your family grows and changes.

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.

Young boy smiles and hugs mother

Unlock Your Health: How TRICARE Can Support Your...

News
Sep. 18, 2025

Childhood and teen years can be full of ups and downs. It’s normal for kids to be sad or irritable or to have...
Read More
Dental care provider wearing gloves performs dental procedure on patient in dental chair.

Opioids, Pain Management, and Your Oral Health

News
Sep. 17, 2025

If you’ve had certain dental procedures, like wisdom teeth removal, a root canal, or oral surgery, some...
Read More
Woman wearing dental bib opens her mouth as a dentist uses dental equipment.

The Power of Prevention: Using the TRICARE Denta...

News
Sep. 16, 2025

When it comes to your oral health, a little prevention goes a long way. That’s why the TRICARE Dental Program...
Read More
Unlock Your Health graphic, DHA logo, elderly woman and medical care worker sit together on a couch

Unlock Your Health With TRICARE Home Health Care...

News
Sep. 16, 2025

Is leaving home for care a challenge? TRICARE covers solutions that make it easier to get the care—and...
Read More
Service member smiles with arms crossed in an office.

Explore Available Counseling and Mental Health S...

News
Sep. 10, 2025

Are you a service member, family member, or survivor? Your TRICARE benefit covers a variety of mental health...
Read More
Young woman sitting on couch speaking on cell phone

Live in the West Region? Learn if You Need To Ta...

News
Sep. 09, 2025

Are you a TRICARE Prime beneficiary living in the West Region? Are you currently using a referral to get...
Read More
Two uniformed service members stand in military pharmacy and funnel prescriptions into a bottle.

Q&A: TRICARE For Life Coverage of Weight Loss Me...

News
Sep. 08, 2025

The Defense Health Agency recently announced it will implement existing regulatory controls regarding TRICARE...
Read More
Provider wearing lab coat and stethoscope taking patient's blood pressure. Text reads: "Patients needed on Sept. 26 for a focus group discussion about hypertension (high blood pressure). Sign up deadline is Sept. 19. Learn if you qualify." TRICARE logo

Help Shape Clinical Practice Guidelines in Joint...

News
Sep. 04, 2025

The Department of Defense and Veterans Health Administration have partnered together and are inviting patients...
Read More

Sept. 18, 2025

Unlock Your Health: How TRICARE Can Support Your Child’s Mental Health

Childhood and teen years can be full of ups and downs. It’s normal for kids to be sad or irritable or to have trouble paying attention or interacting with others at times. But sometimes, these feelings and behaviors are signs that your child could need mental health care. Learn how TRICARE can support your child’s mental health and find tips and resources for supporting your child’s well-being.

Sept. 17, 2025

Opioids, Pain Management, and Your Oral Health

If you’ve had certain dental procedures, like wisdom teeth removal, a root canal, or oral surgery, some dentists may prescribe an opioid painkiller to help manage your pain. While your comfort is a priority, it’s important to also understand any potential negative side effects posed by opioids and the importance of using opioids responsibly.

Sept. 16, 2025

The Power of Prevention: Using the TRICARE Dental Program Benefit To Save You Money

When it comes to your oral health, a little prevention goes a long way. That’s why the TRICARE Dental Program covers two routine dental cleanings and examinations each year.

Sept. 16, 2025

Unlock Your Health With TRICARE Home Health Care and Pharmacy Home Delivery

Is leaving home for care a challenge? TRICARE covers solutions that make it easier to get the care—and drugs—you may need. Your TRICARE plan may cover certain in-home health services and pharmacy home delivery options. This gives you flexibility and convenience in your care.

Sept. 10, 2025

Explore Available Counseling and Mental Health Services

Are you a service member, family member, or survivor? Your TRICARE benefit covers a variety of mental health services. But did you know there are other counseling services available to you? This article explores what services you can access if you need support.

Sept. 9, 2025

Live in the West Region? Learn if You Need To Take Action on Your Referrals Before Oct. 1

Are you a TRICARE Prime beneficiary living in the West Region? Are you currently using a referral to get specialty care? If you used the West Region referral approval waiver to see a specialist between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2025 and need to continue seeing that specialist, you’ll need to get a new referral to a network specialist before Oct. 1, 2025. If you’re still using a valid referral issued by a previous contractor before Jan. 1, 2025, you also need to get a new referral for any care received starting Oct. 1.

Sept. 8, 2025

Q&A: TRICARE For Life Coverage of Weight Loss Medications

The Defense Health Agency recently announced it will implement existing regulatory controls regarding TRICARE coverage of weight loss medications, including Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) drugs, to ensure prescription processing aligns with federal coverage requirements.

Sept. 4, 2025

Help Shape Clinical Practice Guidelines in Joint DOD, VA Patient Focus Groups: Hypertension on Sept. 26

The Department of Defense and Veterans Health Administration have partnered together and are inviting patients to share their experiences managing hypertension, or high blood pressure. This initiative is part of a virtual focus group on Friday, Sept. 26 at noon ET. It will help shape clinical practice guidelines for treating hypertension across military and veteran communities.

Aug. 28, 2025

Q&A: Understanding Eligibility and Coverage With TRICARE Prime Remote

If you live far from a military hospital or clinic, TRICARE Prime Remote could be the right TRICARE health plan for you. While TRICARE Prime is only available to eligible beneficiaries in Prime Service Areas (designated regions that have proximity to military hospitals or clinics), TPR extends coverage beyond PSAs. This plan helps active duty service members and their family members get care when they live or work in areas that are remote from military hospitals or clinics.

Aug. 26, 2025

Unlock Your Health by Understanding the TRICARE Prime Referral Process

Do you have TRICARE Prime? If so, you likely get most of your routine health care from your primary care manager. But sometimes, you may need specialty care that your PCM can’t provide. This is when your PCM will give you a referral. In this article, you’ll learn about the TRICARE Prime referral process. We’ll highlight what’s new—and easier—for you and your family members if you’re moving this year.