Losing your military health benefits can be a stressful experience. Fortunately, the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP) offers a solution, providing temporary health coverage when you no longer qualify for TRICARE. This premium-based plan acts as a crucial bridge, ensuring you have health insurance as you transition to civilian life and find a new health plan. Think of CHCBP as a safety net, offering similar comprehensive benefits to TRICARE Select, including prescription drug coverage and meeting the minimum essential coverage requirements of the Affordable Care Act. It’s important to understand What Are My Continued Health Care Benefit Program options, and CHCBP is a key one to consider if you are losing TRICARE eligibility. If CHCBP seems like the right option for you, timely enrollment is essential; you generally have 60 days from losing TRICARE eligibility to enroll.
Who is Eligible for the Continued Health Care Benefit Program?
Eligibility for CHCBP is tied to prior enrollment in specific TRICARE programs and the circumstances under which you lost TRICARE coverage. Crucially, to qualify for CHCBP, your prior TRICARE plan (if applicable) – such as TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS), TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR), or TRICARE Young Adult – must have been active for at least one day before your TRICARE eligibility ended.
You may be eligible to purchase CHCBP under various scenarios. A key condition across all scenarios is that the service member’s separation from service must be under conditions “other than adverse.” Let’s break down the eligibility based on your former category:
| Former Category | Scenario | Length of Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Active Duty Service Member | Released from active duty | Up to 18 months |
| Full-time National Guard Member | Separated from full-time status | Up to 18 months |
| Member covered by TAMP | Loss of Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) coverage | Up to 18 months |
| Selected Reserve member (TRS) | Loss of TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) coverage | Up to 18 months |
| Retired Reserve member (TRR) | Loss of TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) coverage (before age 60) | Up to 18 months |
| Dependent spouse or child | Loss of TRICARE coverage | Up to 36 months |
| Unremarried former spouse | Loss of TRICARE coverage | Up to 36 months* |
* Unremarried former spouses may have extended coverage options. It’s best to contact Humana Military directly for specific details regarding extended coverage.
Important Considerations for Deactivating Service Members
If you are preparing to deactivate from active duty, understanding your healthcare transition is vital. You might initially qualify for the TRICARE Assistance Management Program (TAMP) and/or TRICARE Reserve Select. It’s important to note that CHCBP often follows these programs. Specifically, if you are eligible for CHCBP after TAMP, you generally must enroll within 60 days of losing TAMP coverage. If CHCBP follows TRS, enrollment is typically required within 30 days of losing TRICARE Reserve Select. For personalized guidance and to fully understand your options, consulting with your personnel office is highly recommended. They can provide tailored information based on your specific situation.
Who to Contact for CHCBP Enrollment and Information
Humana Military is the designated contractor managing the Continued Health Care Benefit Program. They handle all aspects of CHCBP, including enrollment processing, coverage authorizations, claims administration, and customer support.
To get detailed information about the CHCBP, determine if you qualify, or begin the enrollment process, you have several options:
- Visit the CHCBP Website: The Humana Military CHCBP website is a comprehensive resource.
- Call Humana Military: You can reach their customer service directly at 1-800-444-5445. Their representatives can answer your questions and guide you through the enrollment process.
Last Updated: 11/21/2024
