What it does:

• This bipartisan legislation would extend TRICARE dependent coverage from age 21 (or age 23 for full-time students) to age 26, aligning it with private insurance standards under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) 
• Dependents up to age 26 could remain on a parent’s TRICARE plan without paying any additional premium. Currently, coverage beyond age 21/23 often requires enrolling in TRICARE Young Adult, costing families $337–$727 per month.

Financial impact:

• Nearly 33,000 families are affected by this gap. The bill could save some military families up to $8,700 per year per dependent

Support and endorsements:

• Co‑sponsored by Representatives Pat Ryan (D‑NY) and Jen Kiggans (R‑VA) in the House and Senators Mark Kelly (D‑AZ), Lisa Murkowski (R‑AK), and Elizabeth Warren (D‑MA) in the Senate. It’s endorsed by more than 35 bipartisan members and dozens of national veterans and military family organizations, including AFSA, MOAA, VFW, and TAPS.

Why it matters:

• Military families make sacrifices that deserve equal health-care treatment. This bill ensures fairness, promotes retention and readiness, and removes undue financial burdens from military households.