How can a civilian spouse receive medical benefits after divorce?

Full coverage can be achieved by meeting what is called the 20/20/20 test. That means that 1) the military spouse served 20 years of creditable service, with 2) at least 20 years of marriage, and 3) at least 20 years of marriage overlapping 20 years of service.

Limited privileges may accrue to former spouses of marriages that ended prior to April 1, 1985. In this routine, the parties 1) must have been married at least 20 years; 2) the service member must have accrued at least 20 years of service and 3) there must be at least a 15 year overlap in the years of service and the years of marriage.