TRICARE Young Adult: Eligibility, Costs, and Plans | TRICARE.com

TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) is a premium-based health care plan available for purchase by qualified adult children who have aged out of regular TRICARE coverage at age 21 (or 23 if a full-time student).

*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not an official government platform. For official policy and the most current enrollment figures, please visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Definition TRICARE Young Adult is a bridge plan that allows unmarried children of eligible military sponsors to maintain TRICARE coverage until age 26.

## What it means in practice Once a military dependent turns 21 (or 23 if enrolled in a full-time course of study at an approved institution of higher learning), they normally lose eligibility for TRICARE. TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) exists to fill the gap for those who are not yet 26, are not married, and are not eligible for their own employer-sponsored health insurance.

Unlike standard TRICARE for active-duty families, TYA requires a monthly premium. There are two options: **TYA Prime** and **TYA Select**. * **TYA Prime** works like a managed care plan; beneficiaries have a Primary Care Manager (PCM) and need referrals for specialty care. It is generally available only in Prime Service Areas. * **TYA Select** is a preferred provider organization (PPO) style plan that offers more flexibility in choosing doctors but typically involves higher out-of-pocket costs when seeeing non-network providers.

For the **2026 plan year**, the monthly premiums are significant. While exact historical numbers fluctuate, TYA Prime and TYA Select monthly premiums are set annually based on the actual cost of providing care. Beneficiaries must also meet annual deductibles and pay applicable cost-shares or copayments based on their sponsor's status (Active Duty vs. Retired) and the specific TYA plan chosen.

Enrollment is not automatic. To obtain coverage, the young adult must proactively apply through the regional contractor—**Humana Military** in the East Region or **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** in the West Region. Coverage can be terminated if the member gets married, joins the military, or becomes eligible for a health plan through their own employer.

## Related terms * **Age of Majority:** For TRICARE purposes, this is age 21 (or 23 if a student), after which child dependents lose standard coverage. * **Premium:** The fixed monthly amount paid to keep TYA coverage active, regardless of whether medical services are used. * **Qualifying Life Event (QLE):** An occurrence, such as aging out of regular TRICARE, that allows a beneficiary to enroll in TYA outside of an Open Season. * **Sponsor:** The active-duty, retired, or Guard/Reserve member whose service earns the dependent eligibility for TRICARE. * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance:** The current regional contractor for the TRICARE West Region as of 2025/2026.

## Sources * TRICARE.mil: TRICARE Young Adult Program (https://www.tricare.mil/tya) * Defense Health Agency: TYA Costs and Fees (https://www.tricare.mil/costs) * Humana Military: East Region TYA Enrollment (https://www.humanamilitary.com)