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New Family Members
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If you have a new little one in your life, or are expecting a child, you know that nothing means more to you than keeping your baby healthy and secure. Here’s one essential step: registering your newborn or newly adopted child in DEERS, the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System.
DEERS is a database that tracks uniformed service members (sponsors), family members and others worldwide who are legally entitled to TRICARE benefits. It is important to register your baby in DEERS and enroll him or her in TRICARE Prime as soon as possible after birth or adoption, but no later than 60 days afterward if you want your son or daughter to avoid a lapse in TRICARE Prime coverage.
How to Register Your Baby in DEERS
To register your baby in DEERS you must submit the following to your ID card office:
You can apply for your child's Social Security Number (SSN) on the Security Administration Website or call 1-800-772-1213. Once you receive your child's SSN, be sure to update their information in DEERS.
How to Enroll Your Baby in TRICARE Prime
Newborns or newly adopted children (except infants of dependent daughters) are automatically covered as a TRICARE Prime beneficiary for the first 60 days after birth, adopted children are covered 60 days beginning from the effective date of the actual adoption, and pre-adoptive children are covered for 60 days beginning on the date of placement of the court or approved adoption agency as long as one family member is enrolled in TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote or TRICARE Prime Remote for Active Duty Family Members (TPRADFM). Claims for any civilian health care received for newborns during this time are paid under TRICARE Prime rules.
After 60 days of not registering in DEERS, your baby becomes covered under TRICARE Standard, which means claims submitted for your baby’s care are subject to deductibles and cost shares—a more costly situation 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.
By promptly registering your baby in DEERS, you ensure maximum coverage for the lowest cost.
To continue Prime coverage after 60 days you can enroll your baby through Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) or by submitting a prime enrollment/PCM change form. |
