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Terminating Coverage


TRICARE Retired Reserve coverage may be terminated for a number of reasons, both voluntary or involuntary. When coverage is terminated, your regional contractor will initiate your premium payment refund process within 10 days of receiving notification from the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). When your coverage is terminated for any reason, your family members' coverage automatically ends as well.

Voluntary Termination
You may choose to end your coverage at any time. You may terminate the entire plan or coverage for an individual family member. Do not simply stop making payments. You must take the following action to terminate your coverage:

  • Log on to the DMDC Reserve Component Purchased TRICARE Application and follow the instructions to "Disenroll."
  • Complete the Reserve Component Health Coverage Request Form (DD Form 2896-1).
  • Print, sign and mail your completed form to your regional contractor.

The effective end date is either the last day of the month in which the request was postmarked or received, or the last day of a specified future month. A 12-month purchase lockout will apply if you voluntarily end your coverage, which means you will not be able to repurchase TRICARE Retired Reserve for up to one year.  

If you want to terminate your coverage, do not just stop making payments. If you do not take action to terminate and you simply stop making premium payments, your coverage ends. However, you are still responsible for any premium amounts that are due prior to the date your coverage officially ended.

Change in FEHB Eligibility or Enrollment
You must take action (see steps above) to end coverage if you become eligible for or enrolled in the FEHB program. No purchase lockout will apply. If you fail to end coverage as required, your Reserve component may terminate your coverage, and you will be responsible for any health care received after the effective date of termination.

Nonpayment of Monthly Premiums
Your premium payment is due no later than the last day of the month for the next month's coverage. Failure to pay overdue premium amounts will result in a termination of coverage due to nonpayment. A 12-month purchase lockout will apply, which means you cannot repurchase TRICARE Retired Reserve for one year.

Change in Status
If you are ever recalled to active duty service for more than 30 days, you and your family become eligible for non-premium TRICARE plans (e.g., TRICARE Standard). At that time, your coverage is automatically terminated and any unused premiums already paid will be refunded. The 12-month purchase lockout does not apply.

Gaining Eligibility for Other TRICARE Coverage at Age 60
Your TRR coverage will automatically terminate when you reach age 60 and begin drawing retired pay. You become eligible for any of the following TRICARE health plan options:

Need help with the DMDC Reserve Component Purchased TRICARE Application?

For technical assistance or to report system problems with the site, please call the DMDC Support Center at 1-800-477-8227.

Last Modified:May 24, 2012