How To Get TRICARE After Divorce | 2026 Rules & Eligibility

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## Quick answer After a divorce, your TRICARE eligibility ends at midnight on the day the divorce is finalized unless you qualify as a "20/20/20" or "20/20/15" former spouse. If you do not meet these specific criteria, you lose all coverage and must seek alternative insurance, such as the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP).

Details

Upon divorce, the service member must update the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) with a copy of the divorce decree. This action automatically terminates TRICARE coverage for the former spouse. There are three primary outcomes for a former spouse:

### 1. Lifetime Eligibility (The 20/20/20 Rule) You may remain eligible for TRICARE as an individual (under your own Social Security Number) if you meet all three criteria: * **20 years of marriage:** You were married to the same service member for at least 20 years. * **20 years of service:** The service member performed at least 20 years of service creditable for retirement pay. * **20-year overlap:** The marriage and the service overlapped by at least 20 years.

If you meet these requirements, you retain TRICARE eligibility (including pharmacy benefits) until you remarry or enroll in an employer-sponsored health plan.

### 2. Transitional Eligibility (The 20/20/15 Rule) You qualify for one year of transitional TRICARE coverage if: * You were married to the member for at least 20 years. * The member served for at least 20 years. * The marriage and service overlapped by at least **15 years** (but less than 20).

After this one-year period expires, coverage ends permanently.

### 3. No Eligibility (CHCBP Options) If you do not meet the 20/20/20 or 20/20/15 rules, your coverage ends the day the divorce is finalized. You have 60 days from the loss of coverage to apply for the **Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP)**. * CHCBP acts as a "bridge" similar to COBRA in the civilian world. * It typically provides 36 months of coverage. * **2026 Rates:** CHCBP premiums are high ($1,800+ per quarter for individuals — check TRICARE.mil for the exact 2026 quarterly rate).

### Critical Rules to Remember * **Remarriage:** If a former spouse remarries, they lose TRICARE eligibility permanently, even if they met the 20/20/20 rule. * **Employer Plans:** If a 20/20/20 spouse enrolls in an employer-sponsored health plan, they cannot use TRICARE, though they may regain eligibility if they leave that employer plan. * **Children:** A divorce does not change the TRICARE eligibility of the service member’s children. They remain eligible as long as the service member maintains their own eligibility and the children meet age/dependency requirements.

## Who this affects * **Spouses of Active Duty members** (Immediate loss of coverage unless 20/20 rules apply). * **Spouses of Retirees** (Immediate loss of coverage unless 20/20 rules apply). * **National Guard/Reserve Spouses** (Standard divorce rules apply; CHCBP may be available). * **Dependent Children** (Usually unaffected by parental divorce).

## Sources 1. **TRICARE.mil:** Former Spouses (https://www.tricare.mil/formerspouses) 2. **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** DEERS Management (https://health.mil) 3. **Humana Military (East Contractor):** (https://www.humanamilitary.com) 4. **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Contractor):** (https://www.triwest.com)