TRICARE Code 08: Dependent Child Coverage Guide

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

## Quick answer In the world of TRICARE and military benefits, "**08**" usually refers to a specific **Member Relationship Code** used on claim forms and enrollment records to identify an **unmarried child** of a sponsor. It is a critical data point for the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) to ensure dependent children receive proper medical and pharmacy coverage under the sponsor’s plan.

## In detail While most TRICARE beneficiaries think in terms of "Prime" or "Select," the underlying systems managed by the Defense Health Agency (DHA) rely on numerical character codes to categorize individuals. The code **08** specifically designates a "Child (Unmarried)" in most standardized military personnel and medical billing systems.

### Where Code 08 Appears You will rarely see "08" on your TRICARE card, but it is ubiquitous in the administrative background of your healthcare:

* **DD Form 2642:** When filing a manual claim for reimbursement, the relationship of the patient to the sponsor must be identified. * **DEERS Records:** In the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, the relationship code ensures that the child is eligible for benefits and determines when those benefits expire (typically age 21, or 23 if a full-time student). * **Insurance Coordination:** If a child has Other Health Insurance (OHI), the "08" code helps Express Scripts and regional contractors (Humana Military or TriWest) coordinate benefits correctly.

### Eligibility and Age Limits For a dependent coded as 08, TRICARE coverage rules are strict: * **Regular Coverage:** Ends at age 21. * **Full-Time Students:** Coverage can extend to age 23 if the child is enrolled in a full-time course of study at an approved institution and the sponsor provides over 50% of their financial support. * **Adult Children:** Once a child hits the age limit, they move from the "08" status to being eligible for **TRICARE Young Adult (TYA)**, which requires a separate premium.

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Families:** Children of active duty service members are automatically assigned these relationship codes upon registration in DEERS. * **Retirees:** Children of retired service members remain under this code until they age out or marry. * **Guard/Reserve:** Dependents of activated Guard/Reserve members or those enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select. * **Medical Billers:** Administrative staff at TriWest (West Region) and Humana Military (East Region) use these codes to process millions of claims annually.

Common scenarios

### Scenario 1: The Newborn A Sponsor (E-5) in the East Region has a baby. They register the child in DEERS, and the child is assigned relationship code 08. Because the sponsor is active duty, the child is enrolled in TRICARE Prime. For a routine wellness check in 2026, the out-of-pocket cost is **$0**.

### Scenario 2: The College Student A 22-year-old is a full-time student at a university. Their parent is a retiree in the West Region using TRICARE Select. Because they are coded as an unmarried child (08) and a full-time student, they remain on the parent's plan. When they visit a specialist for a sports injury in 2026, they pay a **$50 copay**.

### Scenario 3: The Married Child An 19-year-old dependent gets married. At this moment, they no longer qualify under relationship code 08 (Unmarried Child). Their TRICARE eligibility ends at midnight on the day of the marriage, regardless of the sponsor's status.

## Related terms * **DEERS:** The database that tracks eligibility for military members and their dependents. * **Sponsor:** The active duty, retired, or Guard/Reserve member through whom the family gains TRICARE eligibility. * **Relationship Code:** A numeric or alphanumeric code (like 01 for Spouse or 08 for Child) used in medical billing. * **TRICARE Young Adult (TYA):** A premium-based plan for unmarried adult children who have aged out of regular TRICARE but are not yet 26. * **Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE):** The online portal used to update family information and plan choices.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil Beneficiaries Page:** https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility * **Defense Manpower Data Center (DEERS):** https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/ * **Humana Military (East Contractor):** https://www.humanamilitary.com/ * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Contractor):** https://www.triwest.com/