TRICARE and Divorce: Eligibility & 20/20/20 Rules | TRICARE.com

*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not an official government agency. For official policy and enrollment, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer When a couple divorces, the non-military spouse usually loses TRICARE coverage at 12:01 a.m. on the day the divorce is finalized, unless they meet the strict "20/20/20" or "20/20/15" eligibility rules. Biological and adopted children always remain eligible for coverage as long as the service member sponsor remains eligible.

Details

Divorce is a **Qualifying Life Event (QLE)**. This means the sponsor must update the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) immediately. Once the divorce decree is finalized and recorded in DEERS, the former spouse's coverage terminated unless they qualify for independent status.

### The Former Spouse Eligibility Rules To keep TRICARE under your own name after a divorce, you must meet specific "years of marriage vs. years of service" criteria:

* **The 20/20/20 Rule:** You remain eligible for TRICARE as a "Former Spouse" if: * You were married to the sponsor for at least 20 years. * The sponsor served for at least 20 years. * The marriage and the service overlapped by at least 20 years. * **The 20/20/15 Rule:** You remain eligible for **one year** of transitional TRICARE coverage if: * You were married to the sponsor for at least 20 years. * The sponsor served for at least 20 years. * The marriage and the service overlapped by at least 15 years.

**Note:** If a former spouse remarries, they lose TRICARE eligibility permanently, even if they met the 20/20 rules. They also cannot have employer-sponsored health insurance if they wish to use TRICARE.

### Coverage for Children Divorce does not change a child's eligibility. Biological and adopted children remain eligible for TRICARE until age 21 (or 23 if a full-time student), or up to age 26 under TRICARE Young Adult. The sponsor must ensure the children’s addresses are updated in DEERS if they are moving with the non-military parent.

### Costs and Plans (2026 Rates) If a former spouse qualifies under the 20/20/20 rule, they are treated as an individual beneficiary. * **TRICARE Prime:** For 2026, retirees and their former spouses typically pay an annual enrollment fee (varies by Group A/B status; check TRICARE.mil for current exact 2026 figures). * **TRICARE Select:** Former spouses pay an annual deductible and cost-shares for outpatient visits. * **Pharmacy:** Managed by Express Scripts. Copays apply for retail and home delivery prescriptions.

### What if you don't qualify? If you do not meet the 20/20 rules, you have two primary options to avoid a gap in coverage: 1. **CHCBPH:** The Continued Health Care Benefit Program is a premium-based plan that acts as a bridge. For 2026, it provides 18–36 months of coverage. 2. **Health Insurance Marketplace:** Loss of TRICARE triggers a special enrollment period for private insurance.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Spouses:** Immediate loss of coverage upon divorce unless 20/20 rules apply. * **Retiree Spouses:** Immediate loss of coverage; must monitor 20/20 eligibility. * **National Guard/Reserve Spouses:** Eligibility tied to the sponsor's status (TRS/TRR); coverage ends upon divorce. * **Children:** Coverage remains unaffected as long as the sponsor is eligible.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Rights and Responsibilities - Divorce](https://www.tricare.mil/LifeEvents/Divorce) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [DEERS Enrollment Procedures](https://www.health.mil) * **Humana Military (East):** [Ending Coverage Information](https://www.humanamilitary.com) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** [Beneficiary Resources](https://www.triwest.com)