Military Maternity Leave & TRICARE Benefits Guide 2026 | TRICARE.com

*Disclaimer: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense. For official policy and individual personnel guidance, visit TRICARE.mil or consult your branch's personnel office.*

## Quick answer Active duty service members are typically eligible for **12 weeks of paid parental leave** under the Military Parental Leave Program (MPLP). This is in addition to **6 weeks of medical convalescent leave** for the birth parent, totaling 18 weeks of time off after childbirth.

Details

### The Military Parental Leave Program (MPLP) Under current Department of Defense policy, military parental leave is standardized across all branches for active duty members and certain Reserve/National Guard members on active duty orders.

* **Birth Parent:** Typically receives 6 weeks of medical convalescent leave (for physical recovery) followed immediately by 12 weeks of parental leave. Total: 18 weeks. * **Non-birth Parent (Secondary Caregiver):** Receives 12 weeks of parental leave. * **Adoption or Long-term Foster Placement:** Both parents are eligible for 12 weeks of parental leave.

### TRICARE Coverage During Leave While "leave" refers to the time off granted by your service branch, TRICARE covers the medical costs of the pregnancy and birth. Because maternity leave is only for active duty members, and active duty members are required to be in **TRICARE Prime**, there are **$0 out-of-pocket costs** for prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum checkups as of 2026, provided you use military hospitals or authorized network providers.

### How to Request Leave 1. **Notification:** Notify your command as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed. 2. **Medical Documentation:** Your TRICARE provider (at a Military Treatment Facility or civilian network) will provide the necessary paperwork to document the birth or placement. 3. **Unit Submission:** Leave is requested through your unit's standard leave system (e.g., IPPS-A for Army, LeaveLog for Navy/Marines).

### Key Rules and Restrictions * **Full Pay:** Military maternity and parental leave is fully paid; you continue to receive your base pay and allowances (BAH/BAS). * **Use Window:** Parental leave must generally be used within one year of the birth or placement. * **Incremental Use:** Some branches allow the 12 weeks of parental leave to be taken in increments, while others require it to be taken all at once. Check your specific service regulation (e.g., ADPM for Air Force, MILPERSMAN for Navy).

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Eligible for full MPLP benefits. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Eligible only if serving on active duty orders for a continuous period of 12 months or more. * **Military Spouses:** Not eligible for military "leave" (as they are civilians), but their maternity medical care is covered by TRICARE (Prime or Select). * **Retirees:** Not eligible for military leave.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** Maternity Care Coverage [https://www.tricare.mil/maternity](https://www.tricare.mil/maternity) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** Military Parental Leave Program Memo [https://www.defense.gov/](https://www.defense.gov/) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region):** [https://www.triwest.com](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military (East Region):** [https://www.humanamilitary.com](https://www.humanamilitary.com)