TRICARE Young Adult Program Drops Age Limit and Separate Premium Requirement, Expanding Coverage for Military Dependents

The Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2025 is a straightforward piece of legislation that makes life easier for military families with adult children. Essentially, it tackles two major pain points in the TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program: the age cutoff and a specific premium hurdle.

The End of the Age Cliff

Previously, the TYA program—which covers adult children of service members—had an age limit that could suddenly cut off coverage right when a young person might need it most, like when they’re trying to find their first job or finish school. This bill simply strikes that age restriction from the law (specifically, section 1110b of title 10, U.S. Code). What does this mean in the real world? It means that adult children of service members who meet the other eligibility requirements won't have to worry about losing their military health coverage just because they hit a certain birthday. For a 25-year-old trying to launch a small business or a 27-year-old finishing a graduate degree, this is huge for maintaining healthcare continuity without the stress of scrambling for a new, often expensive, plan.

Simplifying the Cost Structure

The second major change is eliminating the separate premium requirement that was previously tied to TYA coverage. The bill removes subsection (c) of the relevant statute, which laid out a specific premium structure. By removing this, the legislation is streamlining how costs are handled for these young adults. While TYA isn't free—it still requires enrollment fees and cost-sharing—this change simplifies the administrative burden and removes a potentially complex financial barrier. For military families already juggling deployments and moves, removing complexity from healthcare paperwork is a win. It means less time spent trying to decipher separate premium rules and more predictability in budgeting for healthcare.

Bottom Line for Busy Families

This bill is a clean, targeted fix aimed at improving healthcare access for the adult children of those who serve. It removes two barriers—the age limit and a specific premium requirement—making TYA a much more accessible and reliable option. If you’re a service member or veteran whose adult child relies on TYA, this legislation means better coverage continuity and less administrative headache, ensuring that military families have one less thing to worry about when it comes to their kids’ healthcare.