Did your child recently graduate high school or college? Congratulations! While you help them get ready for  their next steps, you may have questions about how their health coverage options will change. Here’s some  information about how young adults may continue using TRICARE, based on their age and student status. 

If your child recently lost eligibility for TRICARE due to their age or graduation, they may qualify  for TRICARE Young Adult (TYA). They must meet these criteria: 

• Unmarried adult child of an eligible uniformed service sponsor 
• At least age 21 but under age 26 
• Not eligible to enroll in their own employer-sponsored health plan 
• Not eligible for other TRICARE plans
• Not a member of the uniformed services 

TYA has a monthly premium. Additional costs are based on enrollment in TYA Prime or TYA Select,  sponsor’s status, and where your child gets care. To learn more about these costs, check out the Compare Costs tool. 

Continued Health Care Benefit Program 

Is your child or sponsor no longer eligible for TRICARE? They may choose to buy coverage through  the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP), which provides the same health and prescription  coverage as TRICARE Select. CHCBP is a premium-based plan. Check out the Compare Costs tool to learn  more. 

CHCBP acts as a “bridge” between TRICARE and your next civilian health plan for up to 36 months. If your  adult child chooses to buy CHCBP coverage, they must enroll within 60 days of losing eligibility for  TRICARE. 

Other coverage options 

Not eligible for TYA or CHCBP? Your adult child may still have other coverage options. They may also  qualify for cost savings on certain commercial health plans. 

For example, losing TRICARE coverage qualifies your child to enroll in a plan in the Health Insurance  Marketplace.

They can search the marketplace to find options that meet your family’s budget and needs. Depending on your child’s income, student status, and state of residence, they may also qualify  for Medicaid coverage or for cost savings on certain commercial health plans. 

Be sure to research and discuss health plan options with your child, so they can choose a plan that works for  their needs. Do you have questions about your adult child’s TRICARE plan options or coverage?

Contact  your TRICARE regional contractor.

*For more from DHA, check out their M:M Expert Page.