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Marriage Length
Establishing the exact duration of the marriage against the 20-year threshold.
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OfficesFairfax | Manassas
Military Divorce / Military Health Benefits
Military Health Benefits · Virginia
Coverage you may keep, if the numbers line up.
The 20/20/20 rule can let a former spouse hold on to Tricare, plus commissary and exchange access, after the divorce. Whether you qualify comes down to three overlapping 20-year measures. We confirm where you stand and protect the coverage you are owed.
First call is a conversation, not a commitment.
The Short Answer
The 20/20/20 rule can let a former spouse keep Tricare health coverage and commissary and exchange access after divorce. It generally requires at least 20 years of marriage, 20 years of creditable service, and 20 years of overlap between the two. When all three are met, the former spouse may retain these benefits in their own right.
How It Works
Three twenties, all at once.
Health coverage is one of the most pressing worries in a military divorce, and understandably so. A former spouse who has relied on Tricare for years suddenly faces the question of whether it continues. The answer turns on a specific rule with a memorable name, the 20/20/20 rule, and on whether your particular marriage and the member's service line up to satisfy it.
What the rule requires
The 20/20/20 rule generally has three parts, and all three have to be met. There must be at least 20 years of marriage, at least 20 years of creditable military service, and at least 20 years of overlap between the marriage and the service. It is that third element, the overlap, that trips people up. A long marriage and a long career are not enough on their own; they have to coincide for 20 years. When all three boxes are checked, a former spouse may keep their benefits in their own right.
What the benefits are
For a qualifying former spouse, the 20/20/20 rule can preserve Tricare health coverage along with commissary and exchange privileges. These are not trivial perks. Tricare in particular carries real financial value, and replacing it on the civilian market can be expensive. Commissary and exchange access add further savings. Taken together, they represent a meaningful part of what military life provided, and the rule lets a long-married former spouse carry that forward.
When the numbers fall short
Not everyone meets the full 20/20/20 overlap, and falling short does not always mean walking away with nothing. Depending on the circumstances, other arrangements, including transitional coverage in some situations, may help bridge a gap. The worst move is to assume the benefits are simply gone without checking. The right step is to confirm exactly where your marriage and service numbers land and plan around them with that knowledge in hand.
Why confirming eligibility matters
Because the rule is rigid and the stakes are high, getting the numbers right is essential. We confirm the length of the marriage, the length of creditable service, and the precise overlap, then determine which benefits the former spouse can retain. Whether the goal is to secure coverage you qualify for or to plan realistically when you do not, clarity is what protects you. Guessing is what costs people coverage they could have kept or relied on coverage they never actually had.
MarriageAt least 20 years of marriage.
ServiceAt least 20 years of creditable military service.
OverlapAt least 20 years where the marriage and service coincide.
The benefitsTricare coverage, plus commissary and exchange access.
If shortOther or transitional arrangements may apply; confirm before assuming.
The Overlap Is The Hard Part
A long marriage and a long career are not enough by themselves. The 20/20/20 rule requires 20 years where the two coincide. That overlap is what most often decides whether the benefits continue.
Note: The 20/20/20 rule and related eligibility are federal and detailed; confirm the current requirements and any transitional options for your situation.
Alisa Chunephisal, Esq.Founding Partner
Attorney Insight
A few honest things about keeping coverage.
"The overlap is what catches people. Twenty years married, twenty years of service, and twenty of them have to be the same years."
Health coverage is often the first thing a spouse asks me about, because losing Tricare is a real and immediate fear. I walk people straight to the three numbers: the marriage, the service, and the overlap. That overlap is the one that surprises them, because a long marriage alone does not do it. When the numbers all line up, the coverage can continue, and I make sure we claim it correctly. When they do not, I do not let anyone assume they are out of options without checking, because there are sometimes transitional paths worth exploring. The mistake I never want a client to make is guessing, in either direction. Guess wrong and you either lose coverage you could have kept or count on coverage that was never there.
Questions Families Ask
Plain answers about health benefits.
These are the questions former spouses ask most about keeping coverage after a military divorce. If yours is not here, we are happy to answer it directly.
Have a specific question?
Call 571.260.0999 or send us a message.
What is the 20/20/20 rule for military health benefits?
The 20/20/20 rule can let a former spouse keep Tricare health coverage and commissary and exchange access after divorce. It generally requires at least 20 years of marriage, at least 20 years of creditable military service, and at least 20 years of overlap between the two. When all three are met, the former spouse may retain these benefits in their own right.
Can a former spouse keep Tricare after divorce?
Possibly. A former spouse who meets the 20/20/20 rule may keep Tricare coverage after the divorce. If the marriage and service overlap fall short of the full requirement, coverage may be limited or unavailable, though other transitional options can sometimes apply. Confirming where you fall is the first step.
What benefits does the 20/20/20 rule cover?
When the 20/20/20 requirements are met, a former spouse may retain Tricare health coverage along with commissary and exchange privileges. These are significant benefits with real financial value, which is why confirming eligibility and protecting access matters in a military divorce.
What if I do not meet the full 20/20/20 rule?
Falling short of the full overlap does not always mean losing everything. Other arrangements, including transitional coverage in some circumstances, may help bridge the gap. The right step is to confirm exactly where your marriage and service numbers land and plan around them, rather than assuming the benefits are simply gone.
When You Are Ready
Find out what coverage you can keep.
Tell us the length of the marriage and the service, and we will confirm whether the 20/20/20 rule applies and protect the coverage you qualify for. Three offices across Northern Virginia, one phone number.