What is the 15 year rule for TRICARE?

Asked by: Mr. Deontae Johnson  |  Last update: September 2, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (15 votes)

20/20/15: Under the 20/20/15 rule, you keep TRICARE health care benefits for one year if: You were married to the service member for at least 20 years, The service member served in the armed forces for at least 20 years, and. The marriage and the period of service overlapped for at least 15 years.

Do all military retirees get TRICARE for Life?

You need to be eligible for TRICARE

Since Medicare eligibility typically starts at 65, that generally means you are either retired military or the spouse of a retired TRICARE sponsor; other separated personnel and family members are not typically eligible for TRICARE health plans, and so don't qualify for TFL.

How long do you have to be married to keep TRICARE for life?

You're eligible for TRICARE as your own sponsor under your own SSN as long as you meet the following criteria: 20: Your sponsor has at least 20 years of creditable service towards determining retirement pay. 20: You were married to the same sponsor/service member for at least 20 years.

What is the 20/20/15 rule in the military?

SPOUSES: THE 20/20/15 RULE

The parties had been married for 20 years; ➢ The military member performed at least 20 years of service creditable for retirement; and ➢ There was at least a 15-year overlap of the marriage and military service.

How long can my daughter stay on my TRICARE?

Unmarried biological children, adopted children, and stepchildren are eligible for TRICARE until age 21 (or 23 if in college—see “College Students” below). Eligibility may extend beyond these age limits if your child is severely disabled. At age 21 or 23, your child may qualify to purchase TRICARE Young Adult.

Military Retirement: Tricare Options

35 related questions found

At what age is a child no longer a military dependent?

Children who are full time students may remain military dependents until age 23 provided they have a letter from the school where the child attends. Certain dependency claims have stringent requirements.

Does TRICARE cover dependents in college?

Unmarried dependent children are eligible for TRICARE until age 21. Young adults can extend TRICARE coverage until their 23rd birthday or graduation (whichever comes first) if enrolled full time in college. They must provide proof of enrollment. Contact an ID card office to see what documents are needed.

Does my ex-wife get half my military retirement?

The USFSPA does not automatically entitle a former spouse to a portion of the member's retired pay; the former spouse must have been awarded a portion of the retired pay through a court order. The USFSPA also provides a method of enforcing things such as child support and alimony awarded in the court order.

What is the military 1 3 2 3 rule?

The 1/3 - 2/3 rule means that the commander and staff should use a maximum of one third of the available timie Page 8 (time is calculated from the receipt of the higher headquarters order at the planning headquarters, to the time when the subordinate unit starts movement) to plan, prepare, and issue an order and ...

What is the 1010 rule in the military?

The 10/10 Rule states that if a couple has been married for at least ten years, during which the service member has completed at least ten years of creditable military service, the non-military spouse is entitled to receive a portion of the military retirement pay directly from the Defense Finance and Accounting ...

Do I keep TRICARE if my husband dies?

Surviving spouses remain eligible for TRICARE unless they remarry. Children remain eligible until they age out or lose eligibility for TRICARE for other reasons.

Will I lose TRICARE if I remarry?

If a surviving spouse, widow, or eligible former spouse remarries, they'll lose eligibility for TRICARE. They can retain TRICARE if they marry another uniformed service member. Note: The loss of eligibility for TRICARE will also result in the loss of transitional survivor status.

What is the 10 10 10 rule for TRICARE?

It is sometimes confused with the 20/20/20 rule that determines whether former spouses are eligible for TRICARE benefits. The actual rule is simple. There must have been at least 10 years of marriage which overlap with 10 years of service.

Can you ever lose TRICARE for life?

If You're Eligible for Medicare Part A

You must have Medicare Part B to keep your TRICARE coverage, even if you live overseas. You will lose your TRICARE coverage if you don't have Part B, if you drop Part B, or you fail to pay your Part B premiums.

Do military retirees get free healthcare for life?

When you retire from active duty, you are eligible to purchase Tricare Prime, Tricare Select, or, in certain areas, the US Family Health Plan. Once you reach age 65, you are no longer eligible for those programs. You can then purchase Medicare and Tricare for Life.

Why can't veterans get TRICARE?

Not all veterans are eligible for TRICARE. Your Service decides if you and your family members are eligible. They report the information in DEERS. To learn more, visit the TRICARE Eligibility page.

What is the 40 rule military?

The SEAL would say that when your mind is telling you you're done, you're really only 40 percent done.

What is the rule 77 in the army?

The Court may caution the accused as to the irrelevance of his defence, but shall not, unless in special cases, stop his defence solely on ground of such irrelevance.

What is the military 20 15 rule?

If the marriage lasted 20 years and the service member served 20 credible years in the military but only 15 years overlap between the two, the former spouse is eligible for one year of health benefits as long as s/he does not remarry and does not have employer-sponsored health insurance.

Will I lose my husband's military pension if I remarry?

Unless court ordered, remarriage of a former spouse will not stop the direct payment of retired pay as property. For divorces finalized on or after November 14, 1986, PL 99-661 permits state courts to order SBP coverage.

What is the ten ten rule?

The framework is simple: before you make a decision, ask yourself three questions: 10 minutes from now, how will I feel about this decision? 10 months from now, how will I feel about this decision? 10 years from now, how will I feel about this decision?

How long does a spouse get TRICARE after divorce?

Additionally, if you were married for at least 20 years, your former spouse served in the military for at least 20 years, and at least 15 of these years overlapped, then you're eligible for full TRICARE coverage for one year after the divorce under the 20/20/15 rule.

At what age does TRICARE stop for dependents?

Most children of service members and retirees can get TRICARE until they turn age 21 (or 23 if they're in college). “TRICARE is committed to ensuring our military families have access to quality health care,” said Shane Pham, an analyst with TRICARE Policy and Programs at the Defense Health Agency.

What age do military dependents lose their benefits?

A: In most cases, the health benefits and base privileges that children of active duty or retired Service members are entitled to end at age 21; however, there are some exceptions: A child may be eligible for premium-free health benefits after age 21 if they meet the criteria for full-time student status.

Does TRICARE cover dental?

TRICARE covers adjunctive dental care as part of the medical benefit. Dental coverage for diagnostic and preventive services, restorative services, orthodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, and other non-medical services are provided under two different dental plans: Active Duty Dental Program. TRICARE Dental Program.