If you were to look at your institution’s enrollment numbers and demographics, it is very likely you have military children enrolled at your institution in undergraduate and graduate programs. In recognition of the Month of the Military Child, consider this one way you can better serve military children on your campus if you are not doing so already.

Veterans and military-affiliated centers, and other support services, can better serve military children by helping those who age out of TRICARE navigate health insurance and set them up for success.

TRICARE, the uniformed services health care program, does not operate the same way as traditional US healthcare programs. For most American healthcare programs, coverage concludes for young dependents when they turn 26. However, for TRICARE, regulations differ. Coverage from TRICARE will end for children of service members and TRICARE-eligible retirees at the age of 21. However, if they are a full-time student, unmarried, and depend on the sponsor for more than half of their financial support, then coverage ends at the age of 23 or the anticipated graduation date, whichever comes first.

If a dependent turns 21, but is still a full-time student at an accredited institution of higher learning leading to an associate’s degree or higher, unmarried, and depends on the sponsor for more than half of their financial support, they will have to make an appointment to obtain a new military ID card to extend their healthcare coverage. To do this, individuals need to provide a letter from the school registrar certifying full-time enrollment or obtain an enrollment verification certificate from the National Student Clearing House. This letter must state full-time enrollment, anticipated graduation date, and dates of the current semester. Both the student and their sponsor must bring 2 forms of valid unexpired identification, and one of those must be a photo ID. The sponsor must provide a DD Form 1172-2 verifying that they provide over 50% financial support to the student. For more information on this process, please see the official instructions provided by the CAC office. 

What structures do you have in place on campus to help military children navigate health insurance in the case that they age out of TRICARE?

TRICARE Young Adult

There are also options to remain on a TRICARE plan under certain circumstances. If a dependent of an eligible uniformed service sponsor, unmarried, at least age 21 (or 23, if a full-time student) but not yet age 26, not eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored health plan, and otherwise not eligible for TRICARE program coverage, then individuals may be eligible for TRICARE Young Adult program. These include medical and pharmacy benefits however excludes dental and vision coverage.

There are two options within the Young Adult program. If enrolled in the TRICARE Young Adult Prime Option, individuals will have a primary care manager that provides most of care and referrals for specialists. There is a monthly premium of $324 to enroll in the Prime option, as well as additional copayments for services.

The other option is the TRICARE Young Adult Select Option in which enrollees can visit any TRICARE-authorized provider. There is a monthly premium of $225, as well as an annual deductible, and costs contingent on the sponsor’s military status.

Useful Healthcare Definitions Students Should Know

Maneuvering the world of US healthcare systems can be confusing, especially when one is getting on their own healthcare plan much sooner than their peers. Additionally, in TRICARE, most services are covered. In US healthcare, this is not always the case. Here’s a list of some popular terms from Healthcare.gov that may be helpful to share with your students who are military children to set them up for success:

• Open Enrollment: yearly period, generally in the fall, when individuals can sign up for, adjust, or cancel their healthcare plan.
• Qualifying Life Event: a change in one’s situation that could make them eligible to sign up for, adjust, or cancel their healthcare plan outside of the open enrollment period (i.e., turning 26, getting married, having a baby, etc.).
• Deductible: the amount paid for services before insurance begins to pay.
• Premium: the amount paid towards a healthcare plan each month.
• Co-pay: a fixed monetary amount paid for healthcare services after hitting the deductible.
• Co-insurance: a fixed percentage paid for healthcare services after hitting the deductible.
• Out-of-pocket max: most one pays in a plan year. Once this limit is reached, the insurance plan covers 100% of the services.
• Preferred provider/In-network provider: a provider who has a contract with a health insurance plan.
• Non-preferred provider/out-of-network provider: a provider who does not have a contract with a health insurance plan. Going to these providers costs more, and insurance may not cover these visits at all.
• Appeal: a request for a health insurance company to review a decision that denies a benefit or payment.
• Allowed amount: the maximum amount a plan will pay for a covered health care service.

Helping Students Find a Healthcare Plan

If a student is employed, there are often plans offered to employees. Sometimes, employers will take on certain premium costs (or all of them) to help cover costs. For example, working for the federal government allows employees to choose from a plethora of plans. OPM.gov makes it simpler to look at multiple brochures to compare prices and services of various plans. There are also options to look at brochures for dental and/or vision plans, which are often entirely separate from a healthcare plan.

If a military dependent reaches the age of 23 prior to finishing their full-time schooling, their TRICARE eligibility will end. However, your institution’s health insurance may also be an option in this case. Reach out to the university’s student health center, or proper office, for more information on student health insurance.

Some may also qualify for a government healthcare plan. The Open Marketplace on Healthcare.gov is open to individuals that are determined to be eligible to get or change their healthcare plan at any given time.

How has your institution helped military children, whether undergraduate or graduate students, navigate their healthcare coverage? Take some time to put together a strategic approach for military children so that when you receive an email that says, “Help, my TRICARE eligibility is lapsing!” you are prepared and able to serve them with your best foot forward.

Article Topics

Military Friendly Institutions Serving Military in HigherEd Workplace Inclusion

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