Choices Enrollment Handbook

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Eligiblility For TRICARE
Registering in DEERS
Medicare Eligibility
National Guard and Reserve Eligibility  
 

Registering in DEERS
The sponsor is automatically registered in DEERS. However, you are responsible for
registering your family members, and you should ensure that their information is always kept up to date, including address, telephone number, and e-mail. Registered family members can make address and contact information changes. However, only the sponsor can add or delete a family member from DEERS. This means that you will have to update DEERS when your personal information changes; for example, when you have a change in military career status or when your family status changes (i.e., marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, or Medicare entitlement).

Mistakes in DEERS can cause problems with accessing care and processing your TRICARE claims. Be sure to keep your DEERS records up to date.

Once you are registered in DEERS, you will receive a uniformed services ID card that you will present when you seek care. Children under age 10 generally can use a parent’s or guardian’s ID card, but they must be registered in DEERS. At age 10, children must have their own ID card. Children under age 10 should have ID cards of their own when in custody of a parent or guardian who is not eligible for TRICARE benefits or who is not the custodial parent after a divorce.
          

Medicare Eligibility
The following are important rules about Medicare eligibility. Be sure that you follow these guidelines to ensure that you remain eligible for TRICARE.

Active Duty Family Members
When you are entitled to Medicare Part A, you are not required to have Medicare Part B coverage to remain eligible for TRICARE. However, when your active duty sponsor retires, you must have Medicare Part B coverage toretain TRICARE eligibility.

Retirees and Their Eligible Family Members

When you are entitled to Medicare Part A, due to age, disability, or end-stage renal disease, you must have Medicare Part B coverage to remain eligible for TRICARE, unless you enroll in the US Family Health Plan. Note: If you are eligible for both Medicare and TRICARE Prime, Prime enrollment fees are waived. Note: If you are not eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A at age 65, based on your work record or that of a family member, you retain your eligibility for TRICARE and are not required to have Medicare Part B coverage. If you become entitled to Medicare Part A on a spouse’s work record following your 65th birthday, you should consider enrolling in Medicare Part B when first eligible to avoid paying a surcharge for late enrollment. Call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or visit www.medicare.gov for information about premium surcharges.

National Guard and Reserve Member Eligibility
The National Guard and Reserves includes the Army National Guard, the Army Reserve, the Navy Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, the Air National Guard, the Air Force Reserve, and the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.

When called to active duty for more than 30 consecutive days (under federal orders), you and your family members become eligible for TRICARE. You are considered an active duty service member and family members are considered active duty family members when you are on active duty orders. Throughout this guide, when we refer to active duty service members or active duty family members, we are also referring to you and your family. Note:  Active duty service members are eligible for TRICARE coverage starting from day one of his or her orders. The 30 day limitation only affects
family members.


To ensure that family members are eligible for TRICARE, sponsors must register eligible family members in DEERS and keep the information up to date. You will need proper documentation, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or divorce decree, to update your family's status.


Visit www.defenselink.mil/ra for more information about benefits for the National Guard and Reserve. Members (and their family members) of the National Guard and Reserve who are not on active duty are eligible for the TRICARE Dental Program.

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