Deactivating

When you leave active duty after serving more than 30 days, you deactivate. Your coverage depends on whether your time was for a preplanned mission or in support of a contingency operation. >>View Coverage Scenarios.

If you are called back to active duty for more than 30 consecutive days, you become eligible again for TRICARE as an active duty service member.

Separation Health Assessment

You're eligible for a Separation Health Assessment if you: 

• Were on continuous active duty orders for 180 days or more (for purposes other than training)
• Were on continuous active duty orders for more than 30 days in support of a contingency operation

Be sure to schedule your Separation History and Physical Examination (SHPE) between 90 and 180 days before you leave active duty. The SHPE is a single exam that the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) use to capture your complete medical history. >>Learn More about the SHPE.

If You’re ActivatedCalled or ordered to active duty service for more than 30 days in a row. for a Preplanned Mission or in Support of a Contingency Operation

You immediately get Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) coverage for 180 days.

• TAMP begins on the first day after your active duty service ends.
• Your family members can also get TAMP. 

When TAMP ends:

• You may qualify to purchase TRICARE Reserve Select.
• If you don't qualify for TRICARE Reserve Select, you can purchase the Continued Health Care Benefit Program.
• You can accept employer-sponsored health insurance.
• You can search the Health Insurance Marketplace for civilian health plans.

If You're Activated but Not for a Preplanned Mission or in Support of a Contingency Operation

You can’t get TAMP, and your active duty benefits end immediately. You may qualify to purchase TRICARE Reserve Select.

• You can accept employer-sponsored health insurance
• You can search the Health Insurance Marketplace for civilian health plans
• If you don't qualify for TRICARE Reserve Select, you can enroll in CHCBP.

Line of Duty Care

You may get care for any illness, injury, or disease that:

• You received in the line of duty or,
• Got worse while you were in the line of duty. >>Learn More

Prescription Drug Coverage

You can get TRICARE’s prescription drug coverage if you have:

• TAMP
• TRICARE Reserve Select, or
• CHCBP coverage.

Dental Coverage

If you qualify for TAMP, you can also get active duty dental benefits.

When your TAMP or active duty benefits end:

• If you had the TRICARE Dental Program before, your coverage automatically resumes
• You'll start paying your monthly premiums again until you meet your 12-month minimum enrollment period
• If your family has the TRICARE Dental Program, their coverage continues uninterrupted.  But their premium payments will change back to their original rates

Children Enrolled in TRICARE Young Adult

If you don’t have TAMP or TRICARE Reserve Select when you deactivate, then your adult child won’t be able to get TRICARE Young Adult

However, in this case, your child can enroll in CHCBP.

Learn more about other Qualifying Life Events