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, contact DEERS to verify what documentation is needed to extend coverage. Representatives there will be able to advise you about the documentation you need to update DEERS and extend coverage.

Your children may not remain enrolled in TPRADFM if they live in a different location while in college, as TPRADFM enrollees must reside with their TPR-enrolled sponsors. However, if your child’s school is in an area where TRICARE Prime is offered, he or she may enroll in TRICARE Prime and have the same benefits as TPRADFM. If your child does not enroll in TRICARE Prime, he or she will be covered automatically by TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra as long as his or her information is kept updated in DEERS. Call Humana Military if you have questions.

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 3, but doesn’t graduate until May, coverage ends at midnight on January 2.

Note: Children with disabilities may remain eligible for TRICARE beyond the normal age limits. Please check with DEERS for eligibility criteria.