Survivor Health Care
- The sponsor’s military status at death
- Whether the surviving family member is a spouse or child
Who is eligible for coverage?
The following scenarios provide an overview of survivor coverage:
- Survivors of Active-Duty Service Members
- Survivors of National Guard/Reserve Members
- Survivors of Retired Service Members
- Surviving Children who may qualify for TRICARE Young Adult
Spouses remain eligible unless they remarry.
When does coverage change?
The coverage for surviving spouses changes to that of a retired family member after three years. The change is automatically reflected in DEERS. Surviving spouses will receive a letter from DEERS before the survivor status changes. This status change will affect health care options and out-of-pocket costs.
Coverage for children doesn't change—they are covered as active-duty Family members until they age out of TRICARE or lose eligibility for other reasons.
Visit the Tricare Plans and Eligibility page for more information.