Are You Still Eligible For Tricare After a Military Divorce?

As a Texas resident who is not in the military, but married to a service member, you may have grown accustomed to taking advantage of certain military perks. For example, you may regularly use a military commissary, or you may use TRICARE health insurance, which is available only for military members and their families. However, if your marriage to a military member is nearing its end, you may wonder if you are still going to be eligible to use TRICARE health insurance once you divorce.

Per Military OneSource, whether you remain eligible for TRICARE after you divorce a servicemember depends on certain circumstances.

Understanding When You Remain Eligible For Tricare

You remain eligible for TRICARE and other military perks after a military divorce if your situation meets the terms set forth by the 20/20/20 rule. In brief, the rule states that you must have been in a marriage with a servicemember for at least 20 years. Also, your spouse’s term of service must have lasted at least 20 years, and that service term and your marriage must have overlapped by at least 20 years.

Understanding Exceptions To The 20/20/20 Rule

You may be able to use TRICARE for a brief period following a split if your marriage lasted at least 20 years and your spouse’s service term lasted at least 20 years, as long as the two overlapped for at least 15 years.

Even if you become ineligible for TRICARE after divorcing a military member, any minor children you share with him or her should still be able to use it.