The U.S. Department of Defense has announced higher health insurance premiums for TRICARE’s Young Adult plan.
TRICARE Young Adult is a health plan for certain young adults who are children of military personnel and retirees. Beginning January 1, 2016,
for TRICARE’s Young Adult Prime option, rates will increase to $306 per month; and,
for TRICARE’s Young Adult Standard option, rates will increase to $228 per month.
Department of Defense release NR-411-15, dated October 28, 2015, explained that TRICARE must set these premiums to cover
- Also Read: Blending Private and Public Sector Retirement Plans Is Complicated—Here’s Where Couples Get It Wrong
- Also Read: The Silent Shift in Postal Service Retirement Benefits That Could Change Everything by 2026
- Also Read: The Side of Civilian Military Employment Benefits Nobody Mentions Until After You Retire
Regular TRICARE coverage (for example, under a parent’s plan) is available to young adults up to the age of 21 (or 23 if the person is enrolled in college). After that, TRICARE Young Adult is available.
To qualify for TRICARE Young Adult, an individual must be:
- an unmarried child of an eligible sponsor (for example, a retired service member);
- at least 21 but not yet 26 years of age and no longer eligible for coverage under a sponsor’s plan;
- not eligible for an employer plan based on the individual’s own employment, and
- not otherwise eligible for TRICARE coverage.
by John Zottoli
