The Defense
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS): DEERS is
a computerized database of military sponsors, families and
others worldwide who are entitled under the law to TRICARE
benefits. DEERS registration is required for TRICARE eligibility.
Registration in DEERS
Active-duty and retired service members are automatically
registered in DEERS, but they must take action to register
their family members and ensure they’re correctly entered
into the database. Mistakes in the DEERS database can cause
problems with TRICARE claims, so it is critical to maintain
your DEERS information.
Verifying and Updating DEERS Information
You can verify your DEERS information by contacting your
regional TRICARE managed care support contractor, your local
TRICARE service center or the nearest uniformed services personnel
office (ID card facility). Sponsors or registered family members
may make address changes, however, only the sponsor can add
or delete a family member from DEERS, and proper documents
are required such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree
and/or birth certificate. To update your DEERS information:
* Visit your local uniformed services personnel office or
contact the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office (DSO)
at 1-800-538-9552. You can find the nearest uniformed services
personnel office at: http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/.
* Fax address changes to DEERS at 1-831-655-8317.
* Mail the address change to the Defense Manpower Data Center
Support Office, ATTN: COA, 400 Gigling Road, Seaside, CA 93955-6771.
* Go online to Tricare to update your information: http://www.tricare.osd.mil/deers/.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- Each family member’s eligibility record must be updated
separately when changes occur.- Any changes that impact you or your family (e.g.,
marriage, birth, divorce, death) need to be reported
to DEERS so that eligibility can start or stop under
DoD and Service guidance. - If you are active duty and re-enlist, separate, retire,
or move, make sure your information gets updated in
DEERS as soon as possible. If you do not, you and your
family might experience a break in eligibility, which
means a break in health care coverage.
- Any changes that impact you or your family (e.g.,
- As soon as you re-enlist, take your reenlistment paper
to your personnel support center or ID card facility so
your information can be updated before your previous enlistment
expires rather than waiting for the paperwork to go through
distribution. - Once you retire, you need to make sure DEERS reflects
your change from from active duty to retiree status.Note: If you or your family were previously
TRICARE Prime under your active duty status, you need
to re-enroll in TRICARE Prime under your retiree status.
Contact the regional managed care support contractor (MCSC)
in your retirement location to find out if TRICARE Prime
is offered in your retirement area ZIP code. - It is important to update your and your family’s home
addresses because TRICARE Program information will be sent
to that address. - Retail network pharmacies check TRICARE eligibility through
DEERS. Your prescriptions will be filled only if you are
in the system. - If you have a child that is over age 21 and a full-time
student, you need to get his or her student status entered
into DEERS so that TRICARE eligibility is not interrupted
and access to health care is not lost. - If you or a family member is Medicare-eligible, entitled
to Part A and enrolled in Part B, DEERS must be updated
to reflect MEDICARE Part A and B status to retain TRICARE
coverage. When you turn 65, the medical section of your
military ID card may also need to be updated.
