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eligibility
Who is eligible for TRICARE?
Quick Answer
Active duty members, retirees, National Guard/Reserve members, their families, survivors, and Medal of Honor recipients.
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Detailed Answer
TRICARE eligibility extends to several groups connected to military service:
Active Duty Service Members
- All branches of uniformed services
- Automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime
Family Members
- Spouses of active duty and retired service members
- Unmarried children under 21 (or 23 if full-time student)
- Unmarried children over 21 with disabilities
Retirees
- Service members with 20+ years of service
- Medically retired service members
- Gray Area Retirees (retired from Selected Reserve)
National Guard & Reserve
- When activated for more than 30 consecutive days
- Reserve Select option available when not activated
Survivors
- Surviving spouses and children of deceased service members
- Un-remarried surviving spouses qualify for continued coverage
Other Eligible Groups
- Medal of Honor recipients and their families
- Former spouses under certain conditions
To verify your eligibility status, check the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) or contact your regional contractor.
Related TRICARE Terms
Beneficiary
Person eligible to receive TRICARE benefits.
Active Duty
Full-time service in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Active Duty Family Member(ADFM)
Eligible family members of active duty service members.
Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System(DEERS)
Database of all individuals eligible for military benefits.
Sponsor
Active duty or retired service member whose service qualifies family for benefits.