Parents in the Military

Health Insurance for Children in Your Care Through TRICARE

TRICARE is the health care program serving active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, their families, survivors, and certain former spouses.

If you are eligible for TRICARE coverage, you may enroll the "children in your care." Children in your care include your children and step-children. If you are a legal guardian for a child, that child is also "in your care."

For Active and Retired Service Members of Uniformed Services

Active and retired service members of the uniformed services are eligible for TRICARE. The uniformed services include the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, and the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.

Medical Support & TRICARE

If the court orders you to provided medical support for your children, you should enroll your children in TRICARE. If not, and the child support program identifies your child as being eligible for TRICARE, the child support agency will notify the parent with primary placement of the child's eligibility for TRICARE. The notice will include instructions about enrolling the child in TRICARE. (The child support computer system, KIDS, interfaces with the Defense Manpower Data Center.) Remember that the court may order either parent or both parents to provide medical support for their children.

For members of the National Guard and Reserves

Family members are eligible for TRICARE health insurance after the service member has been activated for 30 days.

If you are ordered to provide health care coverage for your children and your current insurance policy will be ending during your deployment period, you can enroll your children in TRICARE.

Please contact your nearest TRICARE center for information and the necessary forms you need to sign in order to obtain medical coverage for your children. TRICARE contact information is at www.tricare.mil/contactus/

If your civilian employer maintains your health insurance coverage during your deployment, the Department of Defense advises that the you keep this coverage effective. Once you return to civilian employment, your dependents are no longer eligible for benefits through the military.

Retired Members of the National Guard and Reserves

When you retired and reach the age of 60, you and your family are eligible for TRICARE.

Go back to Parents in the Military & Child Support

Child Support Home  |  Parents & Guardians Information  |  Topic List