TRICARE coverage continues for eligible family members whose sponsor dies—whether on active duty or if retired. Surviving spouses will remain eligible for TRICARE as long as they do not remarry. In the case of remarriage, surviving spouse status cannot be regained later, even if the surviving spouse later divorces or the new spouse dies.

Children remain eligible until they turn age 21 (or 23 if enrolled in college full time and you, the parent, provide more than 50 percent of your child’s financial support). Note: Children with a disability may be eligible for TRICARE beyond the normal limits.
       

When an active duty sponsor dies, the surviving spouse remains eligible for TRICARE at the active duty family member rates for a three-year period, and the surviving children remain eligible for TRICARE at the active duty family member rates until age 21, or age 23 if enrolled full time in a post-secondary education program.  During this time, family members are referred to as “transitional survivors.”

During the transitional survivor period, you may enroll in TRICARE Prime, if available. If you choose not to enroll in TRICARE Prime, you will be covered automatically by TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra. If TRICARE Prime is not available, surviving spouses will be eligible to enroll in TRICARE Prime Remote for Active Duty Family Members for a three-year period, and surviving children are eligible to enroll until age 21 or 23. Your TRICARE coverage will continue uninterrupted as long as your information is correct in DEERS. At the end of the three-year transition, TRICARE eligibility continues for the surviving spouse at the retired family member rates. If the surviving spouse is enrolled in TRICARE Prime during the transitional survivor period and wants to continue coverage after three years, the spouse will need to submit a new enrollment application to Humana Military along with the appropriate enrollment fees.
         

When a retired service member dies, family members remain eligible for TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra with no changes as long as information is kept up to date in DEERS. Surviving spouses will remain eligible for TRICARE as long as they do not remarry. In the case of remarriage, surviving spouse status cannot be regained later, even if the surviving spouse later divorces or the new spouse dies.

Children remain eligible up to age 21 (or to age 23 if the child is enrolled full time in college and you, the parent, provide more than 50 percent of your child’s financial support). Note: Children with a disability may remain eligible for TRICARE beyond the normal limits.