The first thing you probably do when a patient comes into your office is give them a clip board with forms to fill out and ask them for their insurance card. Getting this information is essential to verify your patient has health care coverage.

If your patient indicates they have TRICARE, please check to make sure the patient has a valid uniformed services ID card (military) or Common Access Card. It’s important to be familiar with these ID cards so you can verify patient eligibility. Remember to make a copy of both sides of the card for your records. Although some beneficiaries may believe it is illegal to copy ID cards, it is in fact legal to copy them for authorized purposes (facilitating medical care, eligibility documentation and administration of other military-related benefits).

An ID card alone is not sufficient to prove eligibility, but it does provide necessary information that you should have in hand when calling Humana Military or verifying benefits online. Look for the following information:
            

• Social Security number (SSN) or Sponsor SSN
  Use the SSN found on the ID card when verifying the card holder’s eligibility.
  
• Expiration Date
  Check the expiration date on the ID card in the box titled, “EXP DATE” (it will read “INDEF” for retirees). If expired, the beneficiary is ineligible for care and will need to update their information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System to get a new card and receive care.
  
• Civilian Care
  Check the back of the ID card to verify eligibility for TRICARE civilian care. The center section should read “YES” under the box titled, “CIVILIAN.” If a beneficiary using TRICARE For Life (TFL) has an ID card that reads “NO” in this block, they are still eligible to use TFL if they have Medicare Part A and B.

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Updated November 15, 2007