TRICARE COBRA: How CHCBP Works & 2026 Costs | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer TRICARE does not have a product named "COBRA." Instead, the military offers the **Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP)**, which acts exactly like COBRA by providing 18 to 36 months of transitional coverage after you lose military health benefits.

## Details When you separate from active duty or lose eligibility for TRICARE, you are often entitled to a "safety net" period of coverage. While civilian employers use COBRA, the Department of Defense uses CHCBP. It is managed by Humana Military, regardless of which region you lived in previously.

### How CHCBP Works CHCBP provides the same coverage as TRICARE Select. If you enroll, you must pay quarterly premiums and meet annual deductibles. You generally have **60 days** from the date of your loss of TRICARE eligibility to elect CHCBP coverage.

### 2026 Premium Rates Because CHCBP is not subsidized by the government (you are paying the full cost of the premium plus an administrative fee), it is significantly more expensive than standard TRICARE plans. * **Individual Coverage:** $1,900+ per quarter (2026 rates). * **Family Coverage:** $4,200+ per quarter (2026 rates). * *Note: Specific 2026 figures are adjusted annually; check TRICARE.mil for the exact cent amount.*

### Length of Coverage * **Most Service Members:** Up to 18 months of coverage following separation. * **Unremarried Former Spouses:** Up to 36 months of coverage in specific circumstances. * **Adult Children:** Can sometimes use CHCBP if they lose eligibility for TRICARE Young Adult.

### Alternative: TAMP Before jumping to CHCBP (the "COBRA" equivalent), check if you qualify for the **Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP)**. TAMP provides 180 days of premium-free TRICARE coverage for certain qualifying separations (such as involuntary separation or Separation History and Physical Examination completion). Always use your 180 days of TAMP first before paying for CHCBP.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Those separating (not retiring) from the military. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Members deactivating who do not qualify for TAMP. * **Family Members:** Dependents who lose eligibility due to divorce, death of the sponsor, or aging out. * **Former Spouses:** Those who were not married long enough to qualify for permanent TRICARE benefits.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** Continued Health Care Benefit Program (https://www.tricare.mil/chcbp) * **Humana Military:** CHCBP Contractor Site (https://www.humanamilitary.com/beneficiary/plans-and-programs/chcbp) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** Transitional Assistance Management Program (https://health.mil)