Former Active Duty Members and Families

Congress has granted limited eligibility for TRICARE benefits to four categories of former active duty service members under the Transitional Health Care Benefit (THCB). If the servicemember served:

  • Less than six years, they receive TRICARE benefits for up to 60 days after the separation date
  • More than six years, they receive benefits for up to 120 days Eligible service-member categories:

    • A member involuntarily separated from active duty
    • A reserve component member separated from active duty who was called up or ordered in support of a contingency operation for an active duty period of more than 30 days
    • A member separated from active duty after involuntarily retained in support of a contingency operation
    • A member separated from active duty following a voluntary agreement to stay on active duty for a period of less than one year in support of a contingency mission

Family members of service members who separated on or before December 31, 2001 are also eligible for THCB; those separated after December 31, 2001 are eligible for transitional health care under the Transitional Health Care Demonstration Project (THCDP). The THCDP provides the same level of health care that eligible service members receive under THCB.

Each Service branch determines THCB eligibility and provides that eligibility information to DEERS. TRICARE contractors check DEERS for eligibility status when processing claims.

Claims for eligible members are processed the same as those for active duty family members. For details about THCB eligibility, contact your nearest service personnel representative. For benefit information, see your BCAC/HBA/TSC.

Visit www.tricare.mil/enrollment/index.cfm for TRICARE Enrollment and Claims forms.