Your children remain eligible for TRICARE up to age 21 (or age 23 if enrolled in college full time and the sponsor provides at least 50 percent of the financial support) as long as their information is kept up to date in DEERS. To extend benefits for your college student beyond his or her 21st birthday, call the nearest uniformed services ID card-issuing facility for further assistance. Representatives there will be able to advise you about the documentation needed to update DEERS and extend coverage.

TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra provide continuous coverage when your child goes to college. Coverage remains the same, but your child will need to find a new provider. Advise your son or daughter to save any receipts they have in case you need to file a claim for reimbursement.

TRICARE benefits end when your college student reaches age 23 or when full-time student status ends, whichever comes first. For example, if your child turns 23 on January 3rd but doesn’t graduate until May, coverage ends at midnight on January 2nd. Note: Children with a disability may remain eligible for TRICARE beyond the normal limits.