Extending TRICARE Coverage for Young Adult Dependents to Age 26
Currently, TRICARE coverage for dependent children ends at age 21. If they are enrolled as a full-time student at an approved institution of higher learning, they will remain covered until age 23. After that, military families face a difficult choice: pay steep monthly premiums for the TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program or risk leaving their young adults uninsured.
For one Air Force spouse, this means paying $337 monthly for TRICARE Select, a plan that still requires co-pays and prescription costs. “If I were on a civilian plan, she’d be covered until age 26,” she said. “After serving 22 years in the Air Force, I would expect a little bit more.”
Skyrocketing Premiums
Since 2015, TYA premiums have surged by 250%. For 2025, the monthly premium for TRICARE Young Adult Select – the plan chosen by most families with young adult dependents – is $337. Families who opt for TRICARE Young Adult Prime face premiums of $727 per month. These expenses hit hardest during transitional years when young adults are still finding their footing.
Elesha, an Air Force veteran, describes the increase in costs as “outrageous.” This situation is especially challenging for her as her two sons graduate and begin their careers. Her eldest son entered an extended internship program that does not offer health insurance after graduating from college in May 2024. While her family pays $365 annually for TRICARE Select, her son’s TYA Select premium is $4,044 a year, an increase of 1,007%. “Next year, both my sons will need coverage. That’s over $8,000 annually, just to keep them insured while they launch their careers.”
The Civilian Standard
The Affordable Care Act requires plans that offer dependent coverage to make this coverage available at no additional cost until the adult child reaches the age of 26. Thousands of military families would benefit if TRICARE adopted similar standards, gaining three to five more years of affordable coverage while young adults finish school, complete internships, or search for meaningful employment.
For Brandy, whose son is graduating from college this year, the disparity is evident: “The young adult plan is way more expensive than he can afford at this time. Most other insurance plans cover a young adult up to the age of 26. Why doesn’t TRICARE? A graduate needs time to enter the workforce and find a job that provides adequate health care,” she said.
The Legislative Solution
Lawmakers are beginning to take action. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Representatives Pat Ryan (D-NY) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA) have reintroduced a bipartisan bill called the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act. This bill would extend TRICARE coverage for young adult dependents to age 26 at no extra cost, aligning military healthcare with civilian standards and alleviating a significant financial burden for those who have served. This change would provide stability during a critical life stage, whether it involves finishing a degree, completing an internship, or starting a first job.
Bottom Line
Military families should not be penalized for their service. Aligning TRICARE’s dependent coverage with civilian standards is a common-sense, bipartisan solution that would provide young adult dependents (and their parents) with the healthcare security and peace of mind they deserve. The National Military Family Association (NMFA) will continue to advocate for this change on Capitol Hill, but we need your voice to make it happen.
How would extending regular TRICARE coverage to age 26 help your family?
Your stories strengthen our case to decision-makers and show the real-life stakes of this issue. By signing your name, you can send a pre-drafted letter to Congress urging them to support the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act.
You can also share your story using the form below and help NMFA amplify your family’s voice to create the change military families deserve, because together, we’re stronger®.
By: Olivia Brinsfield, Content Manager
