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Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§1110b TRICARE program: extension of dependent coverage

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART II— - PERSONNEL › Chapter CHAPTER 55— - MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE › § 1110b

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows some young adults to be treated as dependents for TRICARE health coverage. To qualify, a person must: be under 26, would be a dependent except they passed an age limit, not be eligible for an employer-sponsored health plan (as defined by tax law), not already be a dependent in another way, and meet any other rules the Secretary sets that are like Health and Human Services rules. The Secretary will set one or more monthly premiums for this coverage. Those premiums replace any normal enrollment fees. The monthly charge must equal the cost of the coverage based on an actuarial estimate. The Secretary will also set how to pay the premiums. Money collected goes into the Defense Health Program Account and is merged with and available for that fiscal year.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §1110b

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In accordance with subsection (c), an individual described in subsection (b) shall be deemed to be a dependent (as described in section 1072(2)(D) of this title) for purposes of coverage under the TRICARE program.
(b)An individual described in this subsection is an individual who—
(1)would be a dependent under section 1072(2) of this title but for exceeding an age limit under such section;
(2)has not attained the age of 26;
(3)is not eligible to enroll in an eligible employer-sponsored plan (as defined in section 5000A(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986);
(4)is not otherwise a dependent of a member or a former member under any subparagraph of section 1072(2) of this title; and
(5)meets other criteria specified in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, similar to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 2714(b) of the Public Health Service Act.
(c)(1)The Secretary shall prescribe by regulation a premium (or premiums) for coverage under the TRICARE program provided pursuant to this section to an individual described in subsection (b). Such premium shall apply instead of any enrollment fees required under section 1075 or 1075a of this title, as appropriate.
(2)The monthly amount of the premium in effect for a month for coverage under the TRICARE program pursuant to this section shall be the amount equal to the cost of such coverage that the Secretary determines on an appropriate actuarial basis.
(3)The Secretary shall prescribe the requirements and procedures applicable to the payment of premiums under this subsection.
(4)Amounts collected as premiums under this subsection shall be credited to the appropriation available for the Defense Health Program Account under section 1100 of this title, shall be merged with sums in such Account that are available for the fiscal year in which collected, and shall be available under subsection (b) of such section for such fiscal year.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is classified to section 5000A of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code. section 2714 of the Public Health Service Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(5), is classified to section 300gg–14 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Amendments

2017—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 115–91 substituted “section 1075 or 1075a of this title, as appropriate” for “section 1075 of this section”. 2016—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 114–328 inserted at end “Such premium shall apply instead of any enrollment fees required under section 1075 of this section.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2016 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–328 applicable with respect to the provision of health care under the TRICARE program beginning on Jan. 1, 2018, see section 701(k) of Pub. L. 114–328, set out as a note under section 1072 of this title.

Effective Date

and

Regulations

Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VII, § 702(b), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4245, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [enacting this section] shall take effect on January 1, 2011. The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe an interim final rule with respect to such

Amendments

, effective not later than January 1, 2011.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 1110b

Title 10 — Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73