TRICARE Guide for Transitional Service Members (2026)

## Quick answer When you leave active duty, your TRICARE coverage typically ends on your final day of service. However, if you qualify for the **Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP)**, you receive 180 days of premium-free TRICARE Prime or Select coverage to bridge the gap. If you don't qualify for TAMP, or when TAMP ends, you may purchase temporary coverage through the **Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP)** for up to 18 months.

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program or a government agency. For official policy, visit TRICARE.mil.*

In detail

Transitioning from active duty to civilian life is a "Qualifying Life Event" (QLE). This means you have 90 days from your date of separation to make changes to your health plan. Understanding your bridge options is critical to avoid a gap in coverage.

### 1. Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) TAMP provides 180 days of premium-free health care benefits. Your "Day 1" of TAMP is the day after your separation.

**Who Qualifies?** * Service members being involuntarily separated under honorable conditions. * National Guard and Reserve members who served more than 30 consecutive days on active duty in support of a contingency operation. * Members separating after a legal hump (specifically under the 10 U.S.C. § 1145(a) criteria). * Service members separating due to a service-related medical condition.

**Coverage Details (2026 rates):** * Under TAMP, you are treated as an "active duty family member" for cost-sharing purposes. * You can choose **TRICARE Prime** (if you live in a Prime Service Area) or **TRICARE Select**. * **Prime:** $0 enrollment fees; $0 copays for authorized referrals. * **Select:** $0 enrollment fees; you pay an annual deductible and a percentage (cost-share) of the allowed amount.

### 2. Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) If you do not qualify for TAMP, or if your 180 days of TAMP have expired and you still haven't secured employer-sponsored insurance, CHCBP acts like "COBRA" for the military.

* **Duration:** Up to 18 months (longer in specific cases for former spouses). * **Enrollment:** You must apply within 60 days of losing TRICARE or TAMP coverage. * **Cost (2026 rates):** Unlike TAMP, CHCBP requires quarterly premiums. For the 2026 plan year, premiums are approximately $1,800–$2,000 per quarter for individuals and roughly $4,000–$4,500 per quarter for families (check TRICARE.mil for exact T-5 contract adjustments).

### 3. Transitioning to the Guard or Reserve If you separate from active duty but immediately join the Selected Reserve, you become eligible for **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)**. This is a premium-based plan that is significantly cheaper than CHCBP, though it is not free like TAMP.

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members:** Those separating before retirement who need bridge coverage. * **National Guard/Reserve:** Those coming off long-term active duty orders (>30 days). * **Spouses/Dependents:** Family members covered under the sponsor's plan who are also transitioning. * **Service Members with Medical Discharges:** Often the primary path into TAMP.

Common scenarios

### Scenario A: The Involuntary Separation Sergeant Miller is involuntarily separated after 10 years due to a force drawdown in 2026. He qualifies for TAMP. For 180 days, Miller and his family pay **$0 in premiums** and continue using TRICARE Select. After 180 days, he has found a civilian job and moves to his company's PPO.

### Scenario B: The Voluntary Separation (No TAMP) Captain Reed voluntarily resigns her commission to start a business. Because her separation is voluntary and not under a specific TAMP-qualifying category, her TRICARE ends on her last day of service. She enrolls in **CHCBP** for herself and her spouse. She pays approximately **$4,200 per quarter** (2026 estimate) to maintain coverage while her business scales.

### Scenario C: Moving to the Reserves Specialist Jones finishes his four-year enlistment and immediately joins a Drilling Reserve unit. He does not qualify for TAMP. He transitions directly from Active Duty TRICARE to **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS)**, paying a monthly premium (roughly $50–$60 for an individual in 2026) to maintain continuous coverage.

## Related terms * **Qualifying Life Event (QLE):** A certain change in your life, such as separating from service, that allows you to enroll in or change TRICARE health plans outside of Open Season. * **Prime Service Area (PSA):** A geographic area where TRICARE Prime is offered, usually near military hospitals or clinics. * **T-5 Contract:** The current TRICARE contract (as of 2025/2026) where TriWest Healthcare Alliance manages the West Region. * **DEERS:** The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System; the database that determines your TRICARE eligibility.

## Sources * TRICARE.mil - Transitional Assistance Management Program: https://www.tricare.mil/TAMP * TRICARE.mil - Continued Health Care Benefit Program: https://www.tricare.mil/CHCBP * Humana Military (East Region): https://www.humanamilitary.com/ * TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region): https://www.triwest.com/