Retiring from the National Guard or Reserve

Event:	Qualifying Life Event?
Retiring from the National Guard or Reserve	It depends. Retiring from the National Guard and Reserve isn’t itself a QLE. However, turning age 60 after having retired from the National Guard and Reserve is a QLE. As a Retired Reserve member, you have different TRICARE options available to you prior to turning age 60 and once you turn age 60.

Health Plan Options

Your TRICARE options when retiring from the National Guard or Reserve differ from retiring from active duty. These options depend on two distinct events. 

Transfer to the Retired Reserve

If you have TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) coverage, it will end on the day you transfer to the Retired Reserve. 

Under TRR, if you want to get care or pharmacy services at a military hospital or clinic, you can only do so if space is available. 

Reaching Age 60

When you turn age 60, you can enroll in a TRICARE Prime (where locally available stateside) or TRICARE Select plan after these two qualifications have been met: 

• You’re drawing retired pay.
• Your eligibility is reflected in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System(DEERS) A database of information on uniformed services members (sponsors), U.S.-sponsored foreign military, DoD and uniformed services civilians, other personnel as directed by the DoD, and their family members. You need to register in DEERS to get TRICARE. (DEERS).

When these steps are complete, you and your eligible family members must take action to enroll in an available TRICARE health plan by the applicable deadline. Otherwise you’ll only be eligible for care at a military hospital or clinic if space is available. Typically, the deadline to enroll in a TRICARE health plan is 90 days from your 60th birthday.

Retroactive Enrollment

If you don’t enroll in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select within 90 days of turning age 60, you may request a retroactive enrollment. Coverage is effective from the date of your sponsor turning age 60. If applicable, enrollment fees would need to be paid back to the retirement date. 

If you do not request enrollment within 12 months of the sponsor turning age 60, you can only enroll in a TRICARE plan during TRICARE Open Season or until you and/or a family member experiences another Qualifying Life Event. You’ll only be eligible for care at a military hospital or clinic if space is available.

Your choice among the following health plans will depend on where you live at the time of enrollment.

• TRICARE Prime
• US Family Health Plan
• TRICARE Select
• TRICARE Young Adult (for qualified dependent adult children)
• TRICARE For Life (with Medicare Part A & B coverage)
• TRICARE Select Overseas 

Dental and Vision Options

You and your family may qualify to purchase dental and vision coverage through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Your specific eligibility depends on your age.

	FEDVIP dental plans	FEDVIP vision plans
Under Age 60	You may qualify while in the Retired Reserve. You don't have to be enrolled in a TRICARE health plan.	You may qualify only while covered by TRICARE Retired Reserve.
At Age 60	You may qualify from your 60th birthday onward.	You may qualify only while covered by a TRICARE health plan.

For more information, visit: BENEFEDS.com

Prescriptions

You and your family qualify for prescription drug coverage when covered by TRICARE Retired Reserve (before age 60) or any other plan at age 60.