Who is eligible for TRICARE?

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.