As the spouse to a service member in Richmond, you are likely well aware of the challenges that many military couples face. If those challenges have prompted you to seek a divorce, you (like many of those that we here at The Grinnell Firm, PSC have worked with in the past) are probably facing a very uncertain future. So many military spouses make sacrifices to support their husbands’ or wives’ service that they end up in a position of relying on them for many of their basic necessities. While married, those necessities were met thanks to your spouse’s military benefits. Will that access continue now that you are divorced?
Health insurance is typically one benefit that is not easily replaced. If you are not immediately able to secure gainful employment, securing coverage on your own could be next to impossible. Fortunately, the military does allow you continued access to Tricare provided you meet a certain set of criteria. Known as “The 20/20/20 Rule,” these criteria depend on both the duration of your marriage and the length of your ex-spouse’s military career.
According to the website MilitaryBenefits.com, your Tricare coverage will continue under the 20/20/20 Rule if:
- You were married to your ex-spouse for more than 20 years
- Your ex-spouse served at least 20 years in the military
- Your marriage overlapped that service for at least 20 years
What if you meet all but the third requirement? You are allowed to continue to have Tricare coverage for one year if your marriage overlapped your ex-spouse’s service for at least 15 years. Your access to this benefit terminates if you remarry.
If you are interested in learning more about your access to military benefits after divorce, please feel free to browse through the rest of our site.
