(This article by Kimberly Lankford originally appeared in the October 2025 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members, who can log in to access our digital version and archive. Basic members can save on a membership upgrade and access the magazine.)

After spending years in the military, you may have given little thought to layoffs and job loss. But after you leave the service and start a civilian job, you are much more susceptible to these changes.

If you served in the military — even if it was years earlier — some of your military and veterans’ benefits can help financially after you lose a civilian job.

TRICARE

If you kept TRICARE benefits after retiring from the military but also had coverage from your civilian employer, then TRICARE was secondary to the employer’s coverage by helping with deductibles, copayments, and more.

But if you lose your job, TRICARE can become the primary coverage. It can be a less-expensive alternative to keeping your former employer’s coverage through COBRA, a federal law that requires employers with 20 or more employees to let former employees keep their group health insurance for up to 18 months after they lose their jobs. Even though COBRA is the same coverage you had when working, the premiums jump significantly when you leave your job.

[UPDATED MONTHLY: MOAA's TRICARE Toolkit]

“If I had lost a job and I had TRICARE Prime or TRICARE For Life as my backstop, I wouldn’t do COBRA. I’d go ahead and use the TRICARE,” said Lt. Col. Kathryn “Kitty” Meyers, USAF (Ret), a MOAA Life member, president of the Alamo (Texas) Chapter of MOAA, and a MOAA transition liaison officer.

You can also use VA health care rather than pay for COBRA, if eligible. But first, find out how the coverage, providers, and facilities compare. If you are undergoing treatment with a specialist, you may want to temporarily pay extra to continue your employer’s coverage through COBRA. Definitely find out how family members who were included on your employer’s policy would be covered.

GI Bill

The GI Bill can be a valuable way to pay for education, and it can be especially helpful to get new credentials or training while looking for a new job.

“Veterans may have the option of using their GI Bill benefit for vocational training or education, which can be particularly useful for shifting to a new career path,” said Pete Kasperowicz, a spokesman at the VA. “The VA benefit can help veterans to earn a degree [or] certificate, or pursue on-the-job training or apprenticeships. They can also get reimbursed for the cost of tests to become a licensed or certified professional in a variety of career fields.”

[FROM VA.GOV: GI Bill Eligibility]

Transition Programs

Many of the programs and resources that helped when you first left the military and started a civilian job may also prove useful during a job search years later.

Meyers also recommends networking with veterans’ groups, alumni associations, and trade groups.

Kimberly Lankford is a financial expert based in Virginia and the spouse of a
retired Army colonel.