Health insurance often isn’t at the top of divorcing spouses’ lists of concerns. It should be, however – at least if you’ve been getting health insurance through your spouse’s employer.
If your soon-to-be ex is a member of the military (active duty, reserve or retired) and they’re your “sponsor” for TRICARE, it’s a different situation than in the private sector.
Has your marriage lasted at least 20 years?
Continuation of TRICARE coverage for civilian spouses after divorce from a servicemember depends on three factors:
- The length of the marriage
- The length of military service
- The number of years those two things overlapped
If all of those are at least 20 years, you fall under the 20/20/20 rule, you will continue to qualify for TRICARE coverage until and unless you remarry. However, you’ll need to sign up for the continued coverage under your own name and Social Security number.
If your marriage and your spouse’s service have both lasted at least 20 years and the overlap is at least 15 (but not 20) years, you fall under the 20/20/15 rule. That means you can continue your TRICARE coverage if you choose, but for no more than a year after the divorce is final.
Other options
If you don’t qualify under either of these two rules, you are still eligible to continue your coverage for a maximum of three years through the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP). This is meant to be a “bridge between military health benefits and your new civilian health plan,” according to TRICARE.
The CHCBP provides minimum benefits, so it’s a good idea to start looking at your other health insurance options through your own employer or Healthcare.gov. Note that your children can remain on their military parent’s TRICARE plan until they age out.
This is just a brief overview of how TRICARE coverage works for civilians who divorce servicemembers. It’s wise to make sure that you continue to have health insurance – no matter where you get it – as you become a single person again. It’s can also be helpful to know how much you’ll be spending on it as you create your post-divorce budget and determine what kind of financial needs you’ll have as you and your legal team work towards optimal property division, support and other agreements.
