The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires plans and insurers that offer dependent child coverage to make the coverage available until a child reaches age 26. Furthermore, commercial and employer-sponsored plans are required by law to offer this coverage at a price comparable with those who would have been covered at a younger age. Currently, unmarried biological, step-children and adopted children are eligible for TRICARE coverage until the age of 21 (or 23 if enrolled in full-time college). Eligibility may extend beyond these age limits if the dependent child is severely disabled. At age 21 (or 23 if a full-time college student), the child may qualify to purchase TRICARE Young Adult. This discrepancy between commercial plans is due to an exemption in the ACA that does not extend these requirements to government plans.

This legislation was introduced as the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2023 (HR 1045 and S956) in the 118th Congress.

The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States urges Congress to require TRICARE to provide Young Adult Extended Coverage to the age of 26 for all qualified dependents under the sponsor's plan.