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ELIGIBILITY FOR TRICARE


TRICARE Choices

TRICARE is available to eligible beneficiaries from any of the seven uniformed services: the  U.S. Army,  U.S. Navy,  U.S. Air Force,  U.S. Marine Corps,  U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps   (NOAA).  Several program options are available for TRICARE’s unique beneficiary population. The chart below lists the options available to you. Each of these programs is described in more detail later in this guide.

 
Beneficiary Category Your Options Enrollment Requirements
Active duty service member (ADSM) TRICARE Prime

Enroll with your regional contractor and select a primary care manager (PCM).
Active duty family member (ADFM)—Spouses and unmarried children up to age 21 (23 if enrolled in college full time) TRICARE Prime
TRICARE Extra
TRICARE Standard  		If you choose TRICARE Prime, enroll with your regional contractor and select a PCM. If you choose to use TRICARE Extra, locate a TRICARE network provider. To use TRICARE Standard, seek care from any TRICARE-authorized provider.
Uniformed services retirees under age 65 and eligible family members
ADSM who lives and works more than 50 miles or an hour’s drive time from an MTF TRICARE Prime Remote (TPR) Enroll with your regional contractor and select a network PCM (if available).
Family members residing with ADSM who lives and works more than 50 miles or an hour’s drive time from an MTF TRICARE Prime Remote for Active Duty Family Members (TPRADFM)
TRICARE Extra
TRICARE Standard  		If you choose TPRADFM,   enroll with your regional contractor and select a network PCM (if available). If you choose to use TRICARE Extra, locate a TRICARE network provider. To use TRICARE Standard, seek care from any TRICARE-authorized provider. 
Member of the Reserve Component on active duty orders (activated) TRICARE Prime (treated as ADSM) or TPR (if you meet eligibility requirements) Enroll with your regional contractor and select a PCM.
Family of Reserve Component member activated for more than 30 days TRICARE Prime
TPRADFM
TRICARE Extra
TRICARE Standard		 If you choose TRICARE Prime or TPRADFM, enroll with your regional contractor and select a PCM (if available). If you choose to use TRICARE Extra, locate a TRICARE network provider. To use TRICARE Standard, seek care from any TRICARE-authorized provider. 
Medicare-eligible beneficiary under age 65 TRICARE Prime
TRICARE Extra
TRICARE Standard		 Enroll in Medicare Part B (required for all Medicare eligible beneficiaries except for ADFM under age 65). If you choose TRICARE Prime, enroll with your regional contractor and select a PCM. If you choose to use TRICARE Extra, locate a TRICARE network provider. To use TRICARE Standard, seek care from any TRICARE-authorized provider who accepts Medicare.
Medicare-eligible beneficiary age 65 and over TRICARE For Life (TFL) Enroll in Medicare Part B and seek care from any TRICARE-authorized provider who accepts Medicare.
Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and their immediate family members TRICARE Prime
TRICARE Extra
TRICARE Standard
TFL (if age 65 and over)		 If you choose TRICARE Prime, enroll with your regional contractor and select a PCM. If you choose to use TRICARE Extra, locate a TRICARE network provider. To use TRICARE Standard, seek care from any TRICARE-authorized provider. If age 65 and over, enroll in Medicare Part B and seek care from any TRICARE-authorized provider who accepts Medicare.
Certain former spouses of active or retired military service members


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Last Reviewed: September 4, 2007