What is TRICARE Third Party Liability (TPL)? | TRICARE.com

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## Definition Third Party Liability (TPL) is the legal obligation of another person, insurance company, or entity to pay for medical costs associated with a TRICARE beneficiary’s injury or illness.

## What it means in practice Whenever you receive medical care for an injury that might have been caused by someone else, TRICARE is—by law—the secondary payer. This most commonly occurs after motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-fall incidents, or instances of medical malpractice. Under the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act, the Department of Defense has the right to be reimbursed for the cost of your care if a third party is responsible for your injuries.

When a claim is submitted that suggests a third party might be involved (such as a diagnosis code for a broken limb or head trauma), you will likely receive a "Statement of Personal Injury – Possible Third Party Liability" form (DD Form 2527). For example, if you are treated for 2026 for injuries sustained in a car crash, TRICARE may pay your initial medical bills to ensure you receive care, but they will simultaneously file a lien or a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance to recoup those 2026 funds.

It is important to understand that TPL also applies to "no-fault" insurance situations and workers' compensation. If you are injured on the job, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance is the primary payer, not TRICARE. If you receive a settlement from a personal injury lawsuit, a portion of that settlement is legally required to go back to the government to cover the health care costs TRICARE paid on your behalf. Failure to complete the TPL paperwork can result in your medical claims being denied or future care being suspended until the information is provided.

## Related terms * **Other Health Insurance (OHI):** Any non-TRICARE health insurance you have through an employer or private purchase that must pay before TRICARE. * **Coordination of Benefits (COB):** The process TRICARE uses to determine which insurance pays first when a beneficiary has multiple coverage plans. * **Explanation of Benefits (EOB):** An itemized statement showing what TRICARE paid and what the beneficiary owes to the provider. * **Double Coverage:** When a beneficiary is covered by both TRICARE and another health insurance plan, such as a spouse’s employer plan. * **Subrogation:** The legal right of an insurance company (or TRICARE) to legally pursue a third party that caused a loss to the insured.

## Sources * TRICARE.mil - Third Party Liability: https://www.tricare.mil/tpl * Humana Military (East Region) - Claims and TPL: https://www.humanamilitary.com/beneficiary/claims/tpl * TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region): https://www.triwest.com/