TRICARE Young Adult Coverage & 2026 Rates | TRICARE.com

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not the official TRICARE program. For official policies and enrollment, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer When a military dependent "ages out" of standard TRICARE coverage at age 21 (or 23 if a full-time student), they can purchase **TRICARE Young Adult (TYA)**. This program allows unmarried adult children to maintain coverage until they turn 26, provided they are not eligible for their own employer-sponsored health insurance.

Details

Adult children typically lose eligibility for regular TRICARE on their 21st birthday. While full-time students at accredited colleges can remain on their parent's plan until age 23, all other dependents face a "coverage gap" before age 26. TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) was designed to mirror the Affordable Care Act's "stay on your parent's plan until 26" rule, but with a significant catch: it requires a monthly premium.

### TYA Plan Options There are two ways to enroll in TYA, depending on the type of coverage the sponsor has and the level of out-of-pocket costs the young adult prefers:

* **TYA Prime:** Mirroring TRICARE Prime, this option requires a Primary Care Manager (PCM) and referrals for specialty care. It is generally available if the sponsor is on active duty or if the young adult lives in a Prime Service Area. * **TYA Select:** Mirroring TRICARE Select, this plan offers more flexibility in choosing providers but includes higher out-of-pocket costs (deductibles and cost-shares) and no referral requirements.

### 2026 Costs and Premiums Unlike standard TRICARE for active-duty families, TYA is not subsidized by the government; it is funded entirely by enrollee premiums. For the **2026 plan year**, the monthly premiums are:

* **TRICARE Young Adult Prime:** $655 per month (estimated 2026 rate — confirm current exact totals at TRICARE.mil). * **TRICARE Young Adult Select:** $337 per month (estimated 2026 rate — confirm current exact totals at TRICARE.mil).

*Note: These premiums are per individual, not per family. Costs usually increase annually on January 1st.*

### Eligibility Requirements To qualify for TYA, the young adult must: 1. Be an unmarried biological, adopted, or stepchild of an eligible TRICARE sponsor. 2. Be at least 21 (or 23 if a full-time student) but not yet 26. 3. **Not** be eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored health plan through their own job. 4. **Not** be a member of the Selected Reserve or on active duty themselves.

### Enrollment and Contractors Enrollment is managed by the regional contractors. Since January 1, 2025, the regions are managed as follows: * **East Region:** Humana Military * **West Region:** TriWest Healthcare Alliance * **Overseas:** International SOS

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Families:** Children aging out of Prime or Select. * **Retiree Families:** Children of retired service members. * **Guard/Reserve Families:** Children of those enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select or Retired Reserve. * **Survivors:** Unmarried children of deceased service members who meet the age requirements.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [TRICARE Young Adult Overview](https://www.tricare.mil/tya) * **Defense Health Agency (DHA):** [TYA Benefit Fact Sheet](https://health.mil) * **Humana Military (East):** [TYA Enrollment East](https://www.humanamilitary.com) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** [TYA Enrollment West](https://www.triwest.com)