CHCBP Coverage: 2026 Rates, Eligibility & Rules | TRICARE.com

## Quick answer The Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) is a premium-based transitional health plan that acts like a "bridge" when you lose TRICARE eligibility. It provides 18 to 36 months of temporary coverage with benefits similar to TRICARE Select, allowing you to maintain health insurance while transitioning to civilian life or other coverage.

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense. Visit TRICARE.mil for official policy and enrollment.*

Details

CHCBP is not technically a TRICARE plan, but it is managed by the Department of Defense and administered by **Humana Military**. It offers a safety net for individuals who are no longer eligible for military health benefits but are not yet enrolled in an employer-sponsored or private plan.

### Eligibility and Duration Most beneficiaries qualify for **18 months** of coverage, including: * Service members separating from active duty (honorably or under honorable conditions). * Deactivated National Guard or Reserve members.

Certain groups can qualify for up to **36 months**: * Unremarried former spouses who meet specific criteria. * Adult children who lose eligibility (e.g., aging out at 21, or 23 if a full-time student).

### 2026 Costs and Premiums Unlike standard TRICARE plans, CHCBP requires quarterly premium payments. For the 2026 plan year, rates are as follows (subject to annual adjustment): * **Individual Coverage:** $1,940 per quarter. * **Family Coverage:** $4,375 per quarter.

In addition to premiums, beneficiaries are responsible for deductibles and cost-shares that mirror the **TRICARE Select** program. For 2026, you can expect to pay out-of-pocket for office visits and prescriptions according to the TRICARE Select Group B fee schedule.

### How to Enroll You must enroll in CHCBP within **60 days** of losing your TRICARE eligibility. Coverage is retroactive to the day you lost eligibility so that you do not have a gap in insurance. 1. Complete the DD Form 2837 (CHCBP Enrollment Application). 2. Submit the form to Humana Military. 3. Include proof of your loss of TRICARE eligibility (such as a DD214) and the first quarterly premium payment.

### Pharmacy Benefits CHCBP includes the TRICARE Pharmacy Program administered by **Express Scripts**. You can use military pharmacies (space available), the TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery, or retail pharmacies in the Express Scripts network.

## Who this affects * **Separating Service Members:** Those leaving active duty who do not qualify for TAMP (Transitional Assistance Management Program). * **Former Spouses:** Those who have not remarried and were covered by TRICARE at the time of divorce. * **Young Adults:** Adult children who have aged out of TRICARE and TRICARE Young Adult. * **Guard/Reserve:** Members who are leaving the Selected Reserve or Individual Ready Reserve.

## Sources * TRICARE.mil: [Continued Health Care Benefit Program](https://www.tricare.mil/chcbp) * Humana Military (Administrator): [CHCBP Overview](https://www.humanamilitary.com/beneficiary/plans-and-programs/chcbp) * Defense Health Agency (DHA): [Benefit Fact Sheets](https://health.mil/)