CHCBP Explained: Military COBRA Costs & Rules (2026)
*TRICARE.Com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program. For official policy and the most current enrollment data, visit TRICARE.mil.*
## Quick answer The Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) is a premium-based health plan that acts as a "bridge" between military health benefits and civilian insurance. It provides 18 to 36 months of temporary coverage for people losing TRICARE eligibility, such as those separating from active duty or former spouses.
## Details CHCBP is essentially the military’s version of COBRA. While it is managed by the Department of Defense, it is purchased as a private insurance policy administered by **Humana Military**.
### How it works When you lose TRICARE eligibility (for example, by leaving the service before retirement), you have a specific window—usually **60 days**—to enroll in CHCBP. Once enrolled, you receive the same level of coverage as the TRICARE Select plan, including the same provider networks and pharmacy benefits through Express Scripts.
### 2026 Costs and Premiums CHCBP is expensive because the government no longer subsidizes the premium. You must pay the full cost quarterly. * **Individual Coverage:** $1,970 per quarter (2026 rates). * **Family Coverage:** $4,435 per quarter (2026 rates). * **Deductibles and Copays:** In addition to premiums, you are responsible for TRICARE Select Group B deductibles and cost-shares.
### Coverage Duration * **Service Members:** Usually limited to 18 months of coverage after separation. * **Dependents:** Can sometimes qualify for up to 36 months in cases of divorce or a child aging out of TRICARE. * **Unremarried Former Spouses:** May qualify for up to 36 months if they meet specific criteria.
### Enrollment Window You must apply for CHCBP within 60 days of losing your TRICARE eligibility. If you miss this window, you cannot "buy in" later. Coverage is backdated to the day you lost TRICARE to ensure there is no gap in your healthcare history.
## Who this affects * **Separating Service Members:** Those leaving active duty who do not qualify for retirement or TAMP. * **Former Spouses:** Those who have divorced a service member and do not meet the "20/20/20" or "20/20/15" rules for permanent coverage. * **Adult Children:** Those who have aged out of TRICARE (age 21, or 23 if a full-time student) and are no longer eligible for TRICARE Young Adult. * **Qualified Dependents:** Family members who lose eligibility due to the death of the sponsor or other qualifying life events.
## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [CHCBP Program Overview](https://www.tricare.mil/chcbp) * **Humana Military:** [CHCBP Administrator Portal](https://www.humanamilitary.com/beneficiary/plans-and-programs/chcbp) * **Defense Health Agency:** [TRICARE Plans & Costs](https://www.health.mil)