Upon loss of TRICARE eligibility, each family member will automatically receive a certificate of creditable coverage. The certificate of creditable coverage is a document that serves as evidence of prior health care coverage under TRICARE so that you cannot be excluded from a new health plan for pre-existing conditions. Examples of when certificates may be issued include:

• Upon the sponsor’s separation from active duty, a certificate will be issued to the sponsor listing all eligible family members.
• Upon the loss of eligibility for a dependent child (age 21, or 23 if a full-time student), a certificate will be issued to the dependent child.
• Upon loss of coverage after divorce, a certificate will be issued to the former spouse, as soon as the information is updated in DEERS.

Certificates automatically reflect the most recent period of continuous coverage under TRICARE. Certificates issued upon request of a beneficiary will reflect each period of continuous coverage under TRICARE that ended within the 24 months prior to the date of loss of eligibility. Each certificate identifies the name of the sponsor or family member for whom it is issued, the dates TRICARE coverage began and ended, and the certificate issue date.

Send written requests for a certificate of creditable coverage to the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office (DSO) at:

Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office
Attn: Certificate of Creditable Coverage
400 Gigling Road
Seaside, CA 93955-6771

The request must include:

• Sponsor’s name and SSN
• Name of person for whom the certificate is requested
• Reason for the request
• Name and address to which the certificate should be sent
• Requester’s signature

Certificates cannot be requested by phone. If there is an urgent need for a certificate of creditable coverage, fax your request to the DSO at 1-831-655-8317 and/or request that DSO fax the certificate to a particular number.

Additional information is available at TRICARE's Web site.