FALLS CHURCH, Va.  –   Is your son or daughter turning 21 or graduating from college soon? If so, it may be a good time to look into TRICARE Young Adult (TYA). Now, why is TYA so important? Adult dependent children lose regular TRICARE coverage once they turn 21, or 23 if enrolled in college. But with TYA coverage, your child will continue to get the medical and pharmacy benefits they need up until age 26. The TRICARE Young Adult Program Fact Sheet can help you learn all about it.
 
“The TYA fact sheet is one of many resources to help parents and their young adult children understand how TYA works,” said Robert Agnello, deputy chief of Digital Communications, TRICARE Web and Publications, at the Defense Health Agency. “Health care coverage is essential for young adults, and we want to make sure they’re getting the most out of it.”
 
If you’re a TRICARE parent of a young adult, here are three things this fact sheet can help you learn.
 
1. If your child is eligible for TYA
Your child will need to be at least age 21—or 23 if they were previously a full-time college student—to possibly be eligible for TYA coverage. They must also be a dependent child of an eligible uniformed service sponsor. These two eligibility requirements are important. But they aren’t the only ones. Make sure you check out the “Who Qualifies?” section on the first page of the fact sheet to learn about other TYA eligibility requirements.
 
2. Costs associated with TYA
Another way the TYA fact sheet comes in handy is that it helps you assess your child’s TYA costs. As outlined in the fact sheet, TYA is an individual premium-based plan. That means you must pay a monthly premium for health care coverage. How much is that premium? That depends on whether your child is enrolled in TYA Prime or TYA Select. TYA also has separate costs based on sponsor status and beneficiary group. Learn more about those costs under the “TRICARE Young Adult Costs and Fees” section.
 
3. When and how your child can enroll in TYA
Did you know TRICARE Open Season doesn’t apply to TYA and other premium-based plans? That means those qualified for TYA can purchase coverage at any time. With TYA, your adult child may have the option of choosing either TYA Prime or TYA Select. You or your child can purchase TYA coverage online, by phone, or by mail. Purchasing TYA coverage is simple. See “Purchasing TRICARE Young Adult” section to learn more. Remember, your child must show as TRICARE eligible in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System to get TYA.
 
What else can you learn by reading the TRICARE Young Adult Program Fact Sheet? You’ll learn about the differences between TYA Prime and TYA Select, how you can end coverage if you wish, and much more. So, check out the fact sheet, and be sure to take the Publications Feedback Survey to share your thoughts.