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Attention Soon-to-be Veterans: Understand TRICARE Transition Rules - TRICARE Newsroom
Active military, National Guard, and Reserve personnel contemplating retirement in 2026 need to be aware of the rules that govern continuation of TRICARE medical coverage post-service. In a recent post on TRICARE Newsroom, Zelly Zim, a senior program analyst in the TRICARE Health Plan Policy & Programs Division at the Defense Health Agency, explains the steps needed to ensure continued protection for retiring service members and their families. According to this post, “When you retire from active duty or the National Guard or Reserve, you experience a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event. A QLE gives you 90 days to enroll in a TRICARE health plan. You’ll still have access to TRICARE coverage. Unlike during your military service, in retirement you need to choose your plan.”
Read the post in full here for an explanation of the steps to take, including making arrangements for the necessary physical exam, records updates, and choosing a new plan for continued coverage.