Health Care
TRICARE TAMP: 180 days of free coverage
Six months with no premiums after your regular TRICARE ends, if you qualify. Easy to miss.
What it is
TAMP is a bridge. TRICARE says it gives you and your family 180 days of coverage after your regular TRICARE benefits end, and you do not pay premiums for it.
TAMP coverage
Who qualifies
TRICARE lists these groups:
- Service members who separate involuntarily from active duty under honorable conditions (including those receiving a voluntary separation incentive or pay).
- National Guard and Reserve members who separate after 30 or more consecutive days of active duty.
- Members separated after involuntary retention (stop-loss).
- Sole survivorship discharges.
- Members who agree to join the Selected Reserve right after regular active duty.
Your service determines eligibility, and your eligibility must be documented in DEERS.
Plans you can use
During TAMP you can use TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Select, the US Family Health Plan in designated locations, TRICARE Prime Overseas, TRICARE Select Overseas, and the Extended Care Health Option.
Step by step
- Check your TRICARE eligibility and enrollment in DEERS through milConnect. TRICARE says to check it regularly.
- If anything is wrong or missing, call the DEERS Support Office or your service personnel office. Personnel offices help with individual TAMP eligibility.
- Call the TRICARE contractor for your region (numbers on TRICARE's Call Us page) to ask about enrolling in one of the plans above.
1Check your TRICARE eligibility and enrollment in DEERS through milConnect. TRICARE says to check it regularly.
2If anything is wrong or missing, call the DEERS Support Office or your service personnel office. Personnel offices help with indiv
3Call the TRICARE contractor for your region (numbers on TRICARE's Call Us page) to ask about enrolling in one of the plans above.
Traps
- TAMP does not begin during terminal leave. Your active duty benefits continue then.
- TRICARE says to check DEERS regularly to make sure your eligibility and enrollment information is correct.
- TAMP is 180 days from when regular TRICARE ends. Ask TRICARE what you will use after that.
Where to call and where to go
Phone
- DEERS Support Office: 800-538-9552, TTY/TDD 866-363-2883. Source: TRICARE Call Us
- DMDC website help: 800-368-3665 (same source)
- TRICARE contractor numbers by region are listed on the TRICARE Call Us page
Official pages
Sources
Next step: Plan Your Transition walks you through getting out in six steps.