TRICARE is the health care program for uniformed service members, retirees, and their families around the world. TRICARE provides comprehensive coverage to all beneficiaries, including: Health plans. Special programs.

TRICARE is the health care program serving active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, their families, survivors and certain former spouses worldwide. As a major component of the Military Health System, TRICARE brings together the health care resources of the uniformed services and supplements them with networks of civilian health care professionals, institutions, pharmacies and suppliers to provide access to high-quality health care services while maintaining the capability to support military operations.

You are eligible to enroll provided:

• You are an eligible TRICARE recipient, under age 65, and entitled to retired, retainer, or equivalent pay.
• If you are age 65 or over and ineligible for Medicare, you may apply for the plan by attaching a copy of your Social Security Notice of Disallowance of Benefits to your Enrollment Form.
• Coverage is also available for your TRICARE eligible spouse under age 65, and dependent, unmarried children under age 21 (23 if enrolled as a full-time student).
• Coverage is extended to adult dependent children who are under age 26 and enrolled in TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program.
• Eligible spouses and children of active-duty service members may enroll.

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The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a comprehensive health care program in which the VA shares the cost of covered health care services and supplies with eligible beneficiaries. The program is administered by the Veterans Health Administration Office of Community Care (VHA OCC) in Denver, Colorado.

Beneficiaries of 100% Service Related Disabled Veterans. To be eligible for CHAMPVA, you cannot be eligible for TRICARE, and you must be in one of these categories:

1. The spouse or child of a Veteran who has been rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability by a VA regional office.
2. The surviving spouse or child of a Veteran who died from a VA-rated service-connected disability.
3. The surviving spouse or child of a Veteran who was at the time death rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability.
4. The surviving spouse or child of a military member who died in the line of duty, not due to misconduct (in most of these cases, these family members are eligible for TRICARE, not CHAMPVA).

Beneficiaries Age 18 to 23 years

When a CHAMPVA-eligible beneficiary turns 18, CHAMPVA requires that the beneficiary submit proof to CHAMPVA of full-time enrollment in an accredited educational institution for benefits to continue. Information on submitting proof of enrollment can be found on our School Enrollment Certification Requirements for CHAMPVA Benefits Fact Sheet

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