§ 1072. Definitions

Type Statute

Publication 2026-03-26

State In force

Department United States Congress

Source OLRC

§ 1072. Definitions

(1) The term “uniformed services” means the armed forces and the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and of the Public Health Service.

(2) The term “dependent”, with respect to a member or former member of a uniformed service, means—

(A) the spouse;

(B) the unremarried widow;

(D) a child who—

(i) has not attained the age of 21;

(ii) has not attained the age of 23, is enrolled in a full-time course of study at an institution of higher learning approved by the administering Secretary and is, or was at the time of the member’s or former member’s death, in fact dependent on the member or former member for over one-half of the child’s support; or

(iii) is incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical incapacity that occurs while a dependent of a member or former member under clause (i) or (ii) and is, or was at the time of the member’s or former member’s death, in fact dependent on the member or former member for over one-half of the child’s support;

(E) a parent or parent-in-law who is, or was at the time of the member’s or former member’s death, in fact dependent on him for over one-half of his support and residing in his household;

(F) the unremarried former spouse of a member or former member who (i) on the date of the final decree of divorce, dissolution, or annulment, had been married to the member or former member for a period of at least 20 years during which period the member or former member performed at least 20 years of service which is creditable in determining that member’s or former member’s eligibility for retired or retainer pay, or equivalent pay, and (ii) does not have medical coverage under an employer-sponsored health plan;

(G) a person who (i) is the unremarried former spouse of a member or former member who performed at least 20 years of service which is creditable in determining the member or former member’s eligibility for retired or retainer pay, or equivalent pay, and on the date of the final decree of divorce, dissolution, or annulment before April 1, 1985, had been married to the member or former member for a period of at least 20 years, at least 15 of which, but less than 20 of which, were during the period the member or former member performed service creditable in determining the member or former member’s eligibility for retired or retainer pay, and (ii) does not have medical coverage under an employer-sponsored health plan;

(H) a person who would qualify as a dependent under clause (G) but for the fact that the date of the final decree of divorce, dissolution, or annulment of the person is on or after April 1, 1985, except that the term does not include the person after the end of the one-year period beginning on the date of that final decree; and

(I) an unmarried person who—

(i) is placed in the legal custody of the member or former member as a result of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States (or possession of the United States) for a period of at least 12 consecutive months;

(ii) either—

(I) has not attained the age of 21;

(II) has not attained the age of 23 and is enrolled in a full time course of study at an institution of higher learning approved by the administering Secretary; or

(III) is incapable of self support because of a mental or physical incapacity that occurred while the person was considered a dependent of the member or former member under this subparagraph pursuant to subclause (I) or (II);

(iii) is dependent on the member or former member for over one-half of the person’s support;

(iv) resides with the member or former member unless separated by the necessity of military service or to receive institutional care as a result of disability or incapacitation or under such other circumstances as the administering Secretary may by regulation prescribe; and

(v) is not a dependent of a member or a former member under any other subparagraph.

(3) The term “administering Secretaries” means the Secretaries of executive departments specified in section 1073 of this title as having responsibility for administering this chapter.

(4) The term “Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services” means the program authorized under sections 1079 and 1086 of this title and includes contracts entered into under section 1091 or 1097 of this title and demonstration projects under section 1092 of this title.

(5) The term “covered beneficiary” means a beneficiary under this chapter other than a beneficiary under section 1074(a) of this title.

(6) The term “child”, with respect to a member or former member of a uniformed service, means the following:

(A) An unmarried legitimate child.

(B) An unmarried adopted child.

(D) An unmarried person—

(i) who is placed in the home of the member or former member by a placement agency (recognized by the Secretary of Defense), or by any other source authorized by State or local law to provide adoption placement, in anticipation of the legal adoption of the person by the member or former member; and

(ii) who otherwise meets the requirements specified in paragraph (2)(D).

(7) The term “TRICARE program” means the various programs carried out by the Secretary of Defense under this chapter and any other provision of law providing for the furnishing of medical and dental care and health benefits to members and former members of the uniformed services and their dependents, including the following health plan options:

(A) TRICARE Prime.

(B) TRICARE Select.

(8) The term “custodial care” means treatment or services, regardless of who recommends such treatment or services or where such treatment or services are provided, that—

(A) can be rendered safely and reasonably by a person who is not medically skilled; or

(B) is or are designed mainly to help the patient with the activities of daily living.

(9) The term “domiciliary care” means care provided to a patient in an institution or homelike environment because—

(A) providing support for the activities of daily living in the home is not available or is unsuitable; or

(B) members of the patient’s family are unwilling to provide the care.

(10) The term “health care” includes mental health care.

(11) The term “TRICARE Extra” means the preferred-provider option of the TRICARE program made available prior to January 1, 2018, under which TRICARE Standard beneficiaries may obtain discounts on cost sharing as a result of using TRICARE network providers.

(12) The term “TRICARE Select” means the self-managed, preferred-provider network option under the TRICARE program established by section 1075 of this title.

(13) The term “TRICARE for Life” means the Medicare wraparound coverage option of the TRICARE program made available to the beneficiary by reason of section 1086(d) of this title.

(14) The term “TRICARE Prime” means the managed care option of the TRICARE program.

(15) The term “TRICARE Standard” means the TRICARE program made available prior to January 1, 2018, covering health benefits contracted for under the authority of section 1079(a) or 1086(a) of this title and subject to the same rates and conditions as apply to persons covered under those sections.

In clause (1), the words “the armed forces” are substituted for the words “the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard” to reflect section 101(4) of this title.

In clause (2), the words “or to a person who died while a member or retired member of a uniformed service” and “lawful” are omitted as surplusage. The word “former” is substituted for the word “retired”, since a retired member or a member of the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve is already included as a “member” of an armed force.

Clause (2)(E) combines 37:402(a)(4)(E) and (G).

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
1072(1)1072(2)	37:402(a)(1).37:402(a)(4).	June 7, 1956, ch. 374, § 102(a)(1), (4), 70 Stat. 250.

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1072, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 81, defined terms used in former sections 1071 to 1086 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 85–861, § 36B(5), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1570, as superseded by the Federal Voting Assistance Act of 1955 which is classified to subchapter I–D (§ 1973cc et seq.) of chapter 20 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

Amendments

2017—Par. (15). Pub. L. 115–91 amended par. (15) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (15) read as follows: “The term ‘TRICARE Standard’ means the TRICARE program made available prior to January 1, 2018, covering—

“(A) medical care to which a dependent described in section 1076(a)(2) of this title is entitled; and

“(B) health benefits contracted for under the authority of section 1079(a) of this title and subject to the same rates and conditions as apply to persons covered under that section.”

2016—Par. (7). Pub. L. 114–328, § 701(j)(1)(A)(i), added par. (7) and struck out former par. (7) which read as follows: “The term ‘TRICARE program’ means the managed health care program that is established by the Department of Defense under the authority of this chapter, principally section 1097 of this title, and includes the competitive selection of contractors to financially underwrite the delivery of health care services under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services.”

Pars. (11) to (15). Pub. L. 114–328, § 701(j)(1)(A)(ii), added pars. (11) to (15).

2008—Par. (10). Pub. L. 110–181 added par. (10).

2006—Par. (2)(I)(i). Pub. L. 109–163, § 1057(a)(2), struck out “or a Territory” before “or possession”.

Par. (6)(D)(i). Pub. L. 109–163, § 592(b), inserted “, or by any other source authorized by State or local law to provide adoption placement,” after “(recognized by the Secretary of Defense)”.

2001—Pars. (8), (9). Pub. L. 107–107 added pars. (8) and (9).

1997—Par. (7). Pub. L. 105–85 added par. (7).

1994—Par. (2)(D). Pub. L. 103–337, § 701(a)(1), substituted “a child who” for “an unmarried legitimate child, including an adopted child or stepchild, who” in introductory provisions.

Par. (6). Pub. L. 103–337, § 701(a)(2), added par. (6).

1993—Par. (2)(I). Pub. L. 103–160 added subpar. (I).

1992—Par. (2)(D). Pub. L. 102–484 added subpar. (D) and struck out former subpar. (D) which read as follows: “an unmarried legitimate child, including an adopted child or a stepchild, who either—

“(i) has not passed his twenty-first birthday;

“(ii) is incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical incapacity that existed before that birthday and is, or was at the time of the member’s or former member’s death, in fact dependent on him for over one-half of his support; or

“(iii) has not passed his twenty-third birthday, is enrolled in a full-time course of study in an institution of higher learning approved by the administering Secretary and is, or was at the time of the member’s or former member’s death, in fact dependent on him for over one-half of his support;”.

1989—Par. (2)(H). Pub. L. 101–189 added subpar. (H).

1986—Par. (1). Pub. L. 99–661, § 701(b)(1), substituted “The term ‘uniformed services’ means” for “ ‘Uniformed services’ means”.

Par. (2). Pub. L. 99–661, § 701(b)(2), substituted “The term ‘dependent’, with respect to” for “ ‘Dependent’, with respect to”.

Par. (3). Pub. L. 99–661, § 701(b)(3), substituted “The term ‘administering Secretaries’ means” for “ ‘Administering Secretaries’ means”.

Pars. (4), (5). Pub. L. 99–661, § 701(b)(4), added pars. (4) and (5).

1984—Par. (2)(D)(iii). Pub. L. 98–557, § 19(1)(A), substituted reference to the administering Secretary for reference to the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Par. (2)(G). Pub. L. 98–525 added subpar. (G).

Par. (3). Pub. L. 98–557, § 19(1)(B), added par. (3).

1982—Par. (2)(F). Pub. L. 97–252 added cl. (F).

1980—Pub. L. 96–513, § 511(34)(A), substituted in introductory material reference to this chapter for reference to sections 1071–1087 of this title.

Par. (1). Pub. L. 96–513, § 511(35), substituted “National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration” for “Environmental Science Services Administration”.

Par. (2). Pub. L. 96–513, §§ 115(b), 511(36), substituted “spouse” for “wife” in cl. (A), struck out cl. (C) “the husband, if he is in fact dependent on the member or former member for over one-half of his support;”, redesignated cls. (D), (E), and (F) as (C), (D), and (E), respectively, in cl. (C) as so redesignated, struck out “, if, because of mental or physical incapacity he was in fact dependent on the member or former member at the time of her death for over one-half of his support” after “the unremarried widower”, and in cl. (D)(iii) as so redesignated, substituted “Health and Human Services” for “Health, Education, and Welfare”.

1966—Pub. L. 89–718 substituted “Environmental Science Services Administration” for “Coast and Geodetic Survey” in clause (1).

Pub. L. 89–614 substituted “1087” for “1085” in introductory phrase.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2016 Amendment

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