Tricare For Reserve or Guard

National Guard/Reserve Members and Families

The phrase "National Guard/Reserve" refers to members of the:

  • Army National Guard
  • Army Reserve
  • Navy Reserve
  • Marine Corps Reserve
  • Air National Guard
  • Air Force Reserve
  • U.S. Coast Guard Reserve

To verify eligibility, visit the DMDC Reserve Component Purchased TRICARE Application

Tricare "At A Glance" Infographic

TRICARE Coverage

TRICARE coverage is different depending on the sponsor's military status:

Quick Jump:

On Military Duty for 30 Days or Less

When Activated

When Deactivated

When Retired

Members of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) may purchase the TRICARE Dental Program, but usually do not qualify for any other TRICARE benefits when not on active duty orders or immediately following a period of activation.

 

On Military Duty for Less Than 30 Days

You are considered on military duty for less than 30 days (or not activated), when you are on inactive duty for training, annual training, and otherwise on active service for 30 days or less.

Health Care Options

You may qualify to purchase TRICARE Reserve Select, a premium-based, voluntary health plan that provides comprehensive health coverage for you and your family.

You also qualify for Line of Duty Care for any injury or illness sustained in the line of duty, including traveling to and from your place of duty.

Dental Options

For dental care, you and your family can enroll in the TRICARE Dental Program. You will enroll separately and pay separate monthly premiums.

When Activated

You're activated when called or ordered to active service for more than 30 consecutive days. When activated, you become eligible for the same health and dental benefits as active duty service members. You will enroll in one of the following Prime options when you arrive at your final duty station:

If enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program, you will be automatically disenrolled and you will receive active duty dental benefits at military dental treatment facilities and through the TRICARE Active Duty Dental Program.

Family Member Coverage

Your family members become eligible for TRICARE as active duty family members and may use any of the following options depending on where they live when you're activated.

If enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Progam before you were activated, their coverage will continue with reduced premiums. If not enrolled, they may enroll at any time. >>Learn More

If Issued Delayed-Effective-Date Orders

  • If you are issued delayed-effective-date active duty orders for more than 30 days in support of a contingency operation, you may qualify up to 180 days early for active duty TRICARE benefits. >>Learn More
  • If you do not meet these "early eligibility" requirements, your coverage (and your family's coverage) will begin on the first day of your orders.

When Deactivated

When you leave active duty, or deactivate, your health plan options are different depending on if you were called to active duty in support of a contingency operation.

Its important to remember that when you lose eligibility for active duty TRICARE benefits you will need to get new health coverage to meet the requirements for minimal essential coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. TRICARE's transitional health benefits and TRICARE Reserve Select (described below) will meet these requirements, but you should search the Health Insurance Marketplace so you can make the best decision for you and your family.

Health Care Options

If Activated in Support of a Contingency Operation

You are immediately covered by the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) for 180-days.

  • TAMP coverage begins on the first day after your active duty service ends.
  • Family members are also covered during the TAMP period.  

After TAMP ends, you'll need to make decisions about your health care to meet the minimum essental coverage requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

  • You may qualify to purchase TRICARE Reserve Select for you and your family. If purchased, TRICARE Reserve Select is minimum essential coverage.
  • If you don't qualify for TRICARE Reserve Select, you have the option to purchase the Continued Health Care Benefit Program. If purchased, the Continued Health Care Benefit Program is minimum essental coverage.
  • You can search the Health Insurance Marketplace for civilian health plan options to meet the requirements for minimum essential coverage.

If Activated but Not in Support of a Contingency Operation

If you were not activated in support of a contingency operation, you do not qualify for TAMP and your active duty benefits end immediately.

Upon loss of eligibility, you have the option to purchase the Continued Health Care Benefit Program or you can search for more affordable options that meet your family's needs through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Line of Duty Care

You are covered for any illness, injury or disease sustained or aggravated in the line of duty. >>Learn More

Prescription Drug Coverage

You will continue to have TRICARE's pharmacy benefit as long as you are covered by TAMP, TRICARE Reserve Select or the Continued Health Care Benefit Program.

Dental Coverage

  • You are covered by active duty dental benefits during TAMP.
  • When TRICARE or TAMP coverage ends (depending on type of activation):
    • If previously enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program, your coverage automatically resumes, and you will begin to pay your monthly premiums again until you meet your 12-month minimum enrollment period.
    • If your family is enrolled in the TRICARE Dental Program, their coverage continues uninterrupted, however their premium payments will revert back to their original rates.

Children Enrolled in TRICARE Young Adult

For your child to remain eligible for and enrolled in TRICARE Young Adult, you must also be eligible for TRICARE benefits through TAMP or by purchasing TRICARE Reserve Select. If you are not covered by TAMP or TRICARE Reserve Select when you deactivate, your child's eligibility for TRICARE Young Adult also ends.

In this scenario, your child would also qualify to purchase the Continued Health Care Benefit Program.

Retired Reserve Members and Families

Retired Reserve members and their families may qualify for different options based on the age of the sponsor.

Under Age 60

Upon retirement and when you are under age 60, you and your family may qualify to purchase the following options:

If you purchase TRICARE Retired Reserve and you have adult children who "age out" at 21 (or 23 if attending college), they may qualify to purchase TRICARE Young Adult.

Age 60 and Older

When you turn 60 and begin receiving retired pay, you and your family become eligible for the same TRICARE health benefits as all other retired service members. Your health plan options are different based on where you live:

In the United States

Outside of the United States 

Additionally, adult children who "age out" at 21 (or 23 if attending college) may qualify to purchase TRICARE Young Adult.

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