It is extremely important for sponsors to register your new spouses in DEERS to ensure they are eligible for TRICARE. To register a new spouse in DEERS, the sponsor will need to provide a copy of the marriage certificate to the nearest uniformed services identification (ID) card-issuing facility. The new spouse will also be required to show two forms of ID (e.g., any combination of Social Security card, driver’s license, birth certificate, current military ID card, or Common Access Card [CAC]). Once your spouse is registered in DEERS, he or she will receive a uniformed services ID card and will be eligible for TRICARE. When accessing care, your spouse will be asked to show his or her ID card.

Registration in DEERS is not the same as enrolling in TRICARE Prime. Once your spouse is registered in DEERS, he or she will need to enroll in TRICARE Prime; otherwise, he or she will be covered by TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra. To enroll in TRICARE Prime, complete the TRICARE Prime Enrollment and PCM Change Form (DD Form 2876) and submit the form to Humana Military.  You can download the form, visit a local TRICARE Service Center, or call Humana Military to request an enrollment application. You may also enroll your spouse in TRICARE Prime through the Beneficiary Web Enrollment web site after your spouse is enrolled into DEERS. For more information on the BWE Web site, see “Beneficiary Web Enrollment” in the Getting Started section of this handbook.

Your new spouse’s TRICARE Prime enrollment is effective based on the “20th of the month” rule. Applications received by Humana Military by the 20th of the month will be effective at the beginning of the following month (e.g., an enrollment received by December 20 would become effective January 1). If your application is received after the 20th of the month, your coverage will not become effective until the first day of the month following the next month (e.g., an enrollment received on December 27 would become effective February 1). After Humana Military processes your application, your new spouse will receive a TRICARE Prime enrollment card and a letter identifying his or her primary care manager (PCM).

Note: If you are a retired service member and currently pay the individual enrollment fee, your enrollment fee will increase to the family plan rate when you enroll your new spouse in TRICARE Prime.