You should register your newborn or adopted child in DEERS as soon as possible. To register your child in DEERS, you need only a certificate of live birth or adoption. The document does not need to be a certified copy of the official birth certificate. It can be a certificate of live birth authenticated by either the attending physician or other responsible party from the hospital. Note: Registration in DEERS is a separate step from enrolling in TRICARE Prime.
Children are covered as TPRADFM beneficiaries for 60 days after birth as long as one other family member is enrolled in TPR/TPRADFM. If you wish to keep your child enrolled after the 60 days, you must submit an enrollment application to Humana Military within 60 days of birth or adoption for continuous coverage.
On the 61st day, if you have not enrolled the child in TPRADFM, he or she will automatically be covered under TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra until 365 days after the child’s birth or adoption. On day 366, if the child is not registered in DEERS, he or she will no longer be able to receive TRICARE benefits until they are registered in DEERS.
Your children remain eligible for TRICARE up to age 21 (or age 23 if enrolled in college full time and the sponsor provides at least 50 percent of the financial support) as long as their information is kept up to date in DEERS. To extend benefits for your college student beyond his or her 21st birthday, contact DEERS to verify what documentation is needed to extend coverage. Representatives there will be able to advise you about the documentation you need to update DEERS and extend coverage.
Your children may not remain enrolled in TPRADFM if they live in a different location while in college, as TPRADFM enrollees must reside with their TPR-enrolled sponsors. However, if your child’s school is in an area where TRICARE Prime is offered, he or she may enroll in TRICARE Prime and have the same benefits as TPRADFM. If your child does not enroll in TRICARE Prime, he or she will be covered automatically by TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra as long as his or her information is kept updated in DEERS. Call Humana Military if you have questions.
TRICARE benefits end when your college student reaches age 23 or when full-time student status ends, whichever comes first. For example, if your child turns 23 on January 3, but doesn’t graduate until May, coverage ends at midnight on January 2.
Note: Children with disabilities may remain eligible for TRICARE beyond the normal age limits. Please check with DEERS for eligibility criteria.
