Death in the Family

Event:

Qualifying Life Event?

Death in the Family

Yes.

You have 90 days after a death in the family to change your TRICARE health plan.

Sponsor Dies

If your sponsor dies while serving on active duty, TRICARE continues to provide coverage for surviving family members. Plans and costs depend on:

  • The sponsor's military status when he or she died
  • If you're a spouse or a child

Spouses can keep TRICARE unless they remarry. If a spouse decides to remarry, their TRICARE coverage will end unless they marry another active duty or retired service member. TRICARE coverage for their children continues up to the normal age limits. Review the scenarios in the chart below for more information:

If your sponsor was ... Then ...

On active duty

Children remain covered as active duty family members until they age out or lose TRICARE for other reasons. >>Learn more

Retired

Your coverage won't change.>>Learn More

A Guard or Reserve member

Your benefits are determined by your sponsor's status when he or she died.>>Learn More

Other Family Member Dies

If a family member who isn't the sponsor dies, please contact your local DEERS office to find out the necessary steps to report their death. Depending on your situation, your health plan options may also change from family to individual.

Are you an adult child you may qualify for TRICARE Young Adult?

You may be able to purchase TRICARE Young Adult when you turn 21 (or 23 if a full-time student) if:

Last Updated 9/11/2023