Because a TRICARE beneficiary’s eligibility status is subject to change, it is important to verify his or her eligibility during each visit to your office.
 
Although TRICARE beneficiaries may have several forms of identification (ID)—e.g., an enrollment card, uniformed services ID card or Common Access Card (CAC)—an ID card alone does not verify eligibility. In order to confirm a TRICARE beneficiary’s eligibility, you must check that he or she is registered as eligible in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
 
While TRICARE beneficiaries can verify their own eligibility in DEERS, the Privacy Act (Title 5, United States Code, Section 552a) does not allow providers to access DEERS directly to verify eligibility.
 
To verify that a patient is eligible in DEERS, you must log on to MyHMHS for Providers. Before confirming eligibility, review the patient’s uniformed services ID card or CAC to ensure it is not expired and make copies of both sides for your records. If the card is expired, the benefi ciary will need to update DEERS and obtain a new card.
 
When verifying eligibility online, you will need to provide the sponsor’s Social Security number, which is available on the patient’s uniformed services ID card or CAC. Remember to print the eligibility verification screen for your records.
 
It is important to remember that a valid uniformed services ID card or CAC may not always reflect a beneficiary’s current eligibility status. Again, checking his or her DEERS information through Humana Military is the only way to confirm TRICARE eligibility.