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CHCBP Costs 2026: Premiums and Coverage Guide

Guide to 2026 CHCBP costs, including quarterly premiums ($1,813/$4,090), deductibles, and eligibility rules for separating military members and families.

CHCBP Costs 2026: Premiums and Coverage Guide

*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program or the Defense Health Agency. For official policy and enrollment, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer The Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) is a premium-based transition health plan that acts like "COBRA for the military." For the 2026 plan year, it provides 18 to 36 months of temporary coverage for service members and families losing TRICARE eligibility, with quarterly premiums currently exceeding $1,800 for individuals and $4,000 for families.

## In detail CHCBP is managed by **Humana Military** (the East Region contractor) regardless of where you live. While it mimics the coverage of TRICARE Select, it is not a free benefit; you must pay the full premium cost plus an administrative fee.

### 2026 Premium Costs CHCBP premiums are paid quarterly (every three months). For the 2026 plan year (subject to annual adjustments), the rates are: * **Individual Coverage:** $1,813 per quarter. * **Family Coverage:** $4,090 per quarter.

*Note: These rates typically increase on January 1st of each year. Check the Humana Military or TRICARE.mil portal for the exact 2027 adjustments as they are released.*

### Deductibles and Out-of-Pocket Costs Beyond the quarterly premiums, CHCBP functions like the **TRICARE Select** plan for Group B beneficiaries. You are responsible for: * **Annual Deductibles:** $150 per individual or $300 per family. * **Cost Shares:** You generally pay a percentage of the allowed amount (e.g., 20% for outpatient visits) or a fixed copayment. * **Catastrophic Cap:** For 2026, the cap on out-of-pocket expenses is $4,020 per family/year. (Note: Premiums do **not** count toward the catastrophic cap).

### Enrollment Timeline You must enroll in CHCBP within **60 days** of losing TRICARE eligibility. Coverage is backdated to the day you lost eligibility to ensure no gap in health insurance.

### Coverage Duration * **Separating Service Members:** Up to 18 months. * **Divorced Spouses:** Up to 36 months (if certain criteria are met). * **Children losing eligibility:** Up to 36 months (e.g., reaching age 21 or 23).

## Who this applies to * **Separating Service Members:** Those leaving the military (honorably or under honorable conditions) who do not qualify for retirement or TAMP. * **Former Spouses:** Spouses who have not remarried and were covered by TRICARE at the time of divorce, but do not meet the 20/20/20 rule. * **Adult Children:** Children who age out of TRICARE or TRICARE Young Adult. * **TAMP Beneficiaries:** Those whose 180-day Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) coverage is ending.

Common scenarios

### Scenario 1: The Fast-Transition Veteran Sgt. Miller separates from the Army in early 2026. He isn't retiring and doesn't have a civilian job lined up yet. To keep his family covered, he enrolls in CHCBP family coverage. He pays **$4,090 every three months**. After four months, he starts a corporate job and cancels CHCBP to join his employer's plan.

### Scenario 2: The Aging-Out Dependent Sarah is 23 and graduating college in 2026. She is no longer eligible for TRICARE. She chooses CHCBP individual coverage while she looks for a job. She pays **$1,813 per quarter**. When she sees an in-network doctor, she pays a **20% cost-share** after meeting her **$150 deductible**.

### Scenario 3: Post-Divorce Coverage A spouse loses TRICARE eligibility due to divorce in 2026. Because they were married for 15 years, they qualify for 36 months of CHCBP. They pay the **$1,813 quarterly individual premium** to maintain access to their existing military doctors (who accept TRICARE Select/CHCBP).

## Related terms * **Qualifying Life Event (QLE):** A change like separation from service or divorce that opens an enrollment window for CHCBP. * **TAMP:** A 180-day window of free transitional health care for certain separating members; CHCBP usually begins after TAMP ends. * **Group B:** Any beneficiary who first joined the military on or after Jan 1, 2018 (CHCBP follows Group B cost structures). * **Humana Military:** The specific contractor that administers CHCBP nationwide. * **Summary of Benefits:** The document outlining the specific copays and percentages you pay for medical services under CHCBP.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil CHCBP Overview:** https://www.tricare.mil/chcbp * **Humana Military (CHCBP Contractor):** https://www.humanamilitary.com/beneficiary/plans-and-programs/chcbp * **Defense Health Agency Cost Sheets:** https://tricare.mil/costs