TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) Guide: 2026 Costs & Rules
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## Quick answer TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) is an optional, premium-based plan that extends health coverage to adult children up to age 26 who have "aged out" of regular TRICARE. It is available to unmarried children of eligible sponsors who do not have access to employer-sponsored health insurance.
## Details When a dependent child turns 21 (or 23 if a full-time student), their regular TRICARE coverage ends. TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) acts as a bridge for these young adults until they turn 26.
### TYA Plan Options There are two distinct versions of the plan. Your choice affects your costs and where you receive care:
* **TYA Prime:** Functions like TRICARE Prime. You have a Primary Care Manager (PCM) and need referrals for specialty care. It is generally available in "Prime Service Areas" in the U.S. * **TYA Select:** Functions like TRICARE Select. It offers more flexibility to choose your own doctors but requires higher out-of-pocket cost-sharing and deductibles.
### 2026 Costs and Premiums Unlike standard TRICARE for active-duty families, TYA requires a monthly premium because it must cover the full cost of the program.
* **Monthly Premiums (2026 Rates):** * **TYA Prime:** $655 per month (estimated/varies by plan year — check TRICARE.mil for exact 2026 updates). * **TYA Select:** $337 per month (estimated/varies by plan year — check TRICARE.mil for exact 2026 updates). * **Cost-Shares:** Once the premium is paid, your copays and deductibles depend on your sponsor's status (Active Duty vs. Retiree) and whether you chose Prime or Select.
### Eligibility Requirements To qualify for TYA, the young adult must meet all of the following: * An unmarried child of an eligible TRICARE sponsor. * At least age 21 (or 23 if a full-time student) but not yet age 26. * **NOT** eligible for their own employer-sponsored health plan. * **NOT** eligible for any other TRICARE plan. * **NOT** married (marriage terminates TYA eligibility immediately).
### Enrollment and Pharmacy Enrollment is handled by the regional contractors: **Humana Military** (East) or **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** (West). Pharmacy benefits are included and managed by **Express Scripts**, providing access to military pharmacies, home delivery, and retail network pharmacies.
## Who this affects * **Unmarried children** (ages 21–25) of Active Duty service members. * **Unmarried children** (ages 21–25) of Retired service members. * **Unmarried children** of National Guard and Reserve members (if the sponsor is on active duty or covered by TRS/TRR). * **Survivors** of deceased sponsors who meet the age requirements.
## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [TRICARE Young Adult Overview](https://www.tricare.mil/tya) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [TYA Program Fact Sheet](https://health.mil/) * **Humana Military:** [East Region TYA Procedures](https://www.humanamilitary.com/) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** [West Region TYA Benefits](https://www.triwest.com/)