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Make Sure Your Newborn is Covered by TRICARE (Article 1) |
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After months of preparation and waiting, your precious newborn is finally here. Being a new mother or father is exciting as you think about all the possibilities that lie ahead for your child. Along with this excitement come added responsibilities, especially for your baby’s health care.
Now is the perfect time to register your newborn in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). If you wish to continue TRICARE Prime coverage for your new addition, you will also need to complete a TRICARE Prime enrollment application and submit it to Humana Military. You should do this as soon as possible after birth—and no later than 60 days afterward—if you want your son or daughter to avoid a lapse in TRICARE Prime coverage.
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After 60 days, if your baby isn’t registered in DEERS and enrolled in TRICARE Prime, he or she will be covered under TRICARE Standard, which means claims submitted for your baby’s care are subject to deductibles and cost-shares—typically a more expensive option for you. Your baby will continue to be covered under TRICARE Standard until registered in DEERS and enrolled in TRICARE Prime, or until TRICARE Standard eligibility ends, which is 365 days after birth for any newborn not registered in DEERS.
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Step 1: Register Your Baby in DEERS |
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To establish a newborn’s TRICARE eligibility in DEERS, you need to do three things:
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- Obtain a certificate of “live birth” and a copy of a verified and approved DD Form 1172 “Application for Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card,” which must be signed by the sponsor. (If the sponsor is overseas, a notarized copy of the DD Form 1172 is required.) The certificate of live birth must be authenticated by an attending physician or other responsible person from a U.S. hospital or military treatment facility, and it must show the name of at least one parent.
- Go to your nearest personnel office (ID card issuing facility) with the certificate of live birth and DD Form 1172 to register your baby in DEERS. You can locate the nearest one by visiting the RAPIDS Web site.
- Apply for your child’s Social Security number (SSN). Go to the Social Security Administration Web site, or call
1-800-772-1213 for an application. You don’t have to wait until you get your child’s SSN to register him or her in DEERS. Just update his or her DEERS information after you receive the SSN.
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Step 2: Enroll Your Baby in TRICARE Prime |
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Remember, your child is covered under TRICARE Prime for the first 60 days after birth as long as one additional family member is enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Prime Remote.
You’ll want to add your newborn to your TRICARE Prime family enrollment as soon as he or she is registered in DEERS. To do this, download a Prime Enrollment/PCM Change Form , follow the instructions to add a family member, and submit the form.
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| It is recommended that the sponsor bring the application to the nearest TRICARE Service Center or fax it to Humana Military using the number provided on the application. Be sure to keep a copy of the application and a confirmation record of the date the application was submitted. By enrolling within 60 days after birth, you will ensure continuous TRICARE Prime coverage for your son or daughter. |
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Last Reviewed: December 4, 2007
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