Forget the word "ACADEMY". Right now, forget it. If you go to the air force base in Colorado Springs, Colorado; you are IN THE AIR FORCE. There is no difference between you and the captain, airman, or sergeant across town at Peterson Air Force Base. You are not mommy and daddy's responsibility any longer. You don't need their permission to sign papers and contracts. You can buy a cell phone without their permission. The air force could say: "Hey, we have a national security emergency and don't have enough military members. Your college is on hold, you're going to the middle east". Yes, these are all extremes, and they aren't going to send you to the desert instead of school. But the point is: You are no longer your mom and dad's dependent. You are now an adult. And as part of the military, you are covered for your medical, dental, and all other areas. "Just like the active duty military member".
For what it's worth, not ALL parents are happy about their kids going to the academy. I know one first hand who's family basically disowned him for going to the academy. He left for BCT and never went back home. He didn't go back at christmas, spring break, or summer vacation. And his parents did help him in any way, shape, or form. It took about 15 years for them to be on somewhat speaking terms again. Point is; there is nothing parents HAVE TO DO for their cadets. Anything you do is strictly because you WANT to. Just like giving them a birthday present. It's because you want to. This is also why your cadet is receiving a paycheck each month. Albeit not much. Welcome to adulthood. And in return, your parents no longer can claim you as a dependent on their taxes. (Possible for the first tax year, but it's rare and very unique.... I.e. parents are extremely wealthy and provided more to the student than the air force will.
Again; if a parent WANTS to keep their cadet on their car insurance until graduation, that's fine. It's not the parent's responsibility; but considering how much money the cadet saved their parents in college costs; assuming the parents would contribute; and extra couple hundred dollars a year is a nice this to do for your child so they don't go broke paying for insurance. (That's also 1 of the reasons, or many, why cars aren't authorized until your C2C year. You aren't making any real money yet. And the military doesn't want to encourage debt. But there is absolutely no reason at all to have your cadet on your health insurance. Pretend that they graduated high school; moved cross country; got married; and started their OWN life.
That's probably the hardest part of the academy for parents. They want to believe that their kid is simply going to college. And that they, the parent, still has control and responsibility for their son/daughter. Unfortunately, parents give up those rights and responsibilities the day their son/daughter walk into BCT. Any say so you have in your son/daughter's life from this point on, is strictly something that your child has chosen to ALLOW you to have; probably out of respect. Legally, you have no more say so over your kids once they get to the academy. YES... Even if they are 17 years old. When you signed the paperwork for them; being under 17; you basically gave your son/daughter the status of an emancipated minor. In other words, in the eyes of the court, they are now adults. They can make all their own decisions now. I know this hard for some to hear. But that's the way it is.
For what it's worth; it's exactly the same if they went to a traditional college. The only difference is that the government allows you to claim them on your taxes. Other than that, they are free to sign contracts, move away from home, and make all their own decisions.