Change in Marital Status

Marriage

Divorce

MARRIAGE

• Sponsor must register new spouse in DEERS.
  Each family member must be updated separately when changes occur. If the sponsor is not available to update DEERS, family members may do so with a notarized DD Form 1172. Bring the following to the nearest uniformed ID card-issuing facility:
  1. Copy of marriage certificate
  2. Completed and notarized Application for Department of Defense Common Access Card and DEERS Enrollment (DD Form 1172)
  3. New spouse’s Social Security number
• Enroll in TRICARE Prime
  Your new spouse will automatically be covered under TRICARE Standard/Extra once enrolled in DEERS. To enroll them into TRICARE Prime, follow these steps:
  1. Complete the TRICARE Prime Enrollment Application and PCM Change Form. You may download and print this form or call 1-888-TRIWEST (874-9378) to request one be mailed to you. You may also visit your local TRICARE Service Center to pick one up.
  2. Sign and date the form in either blue or black ink. Forms that are not signed and dated will be considered incomplete and will be returned to you, delaying enrollment and coverage.
  3. Mail the form with your enrollment fee to:
     TriWest Healthcare Alliance
     P.O. Box 43590
     Phoenix, AZ 85080-3590

If your application is received before the 20^th of the month, your enrollment will begin on the first of the following month (i.e. applications received between Jan. 1-20 will result in enrollment beginning on Feb. 1). If your application is received after the 20^th of the month, your enrollment will not begin until the first of the month after the next (i.e. if the application is received between Jan. 21^st – 31^st, enrollment will begin on March 31.)

If you are adding a family member or dependent for the first time, your enrollment will change from an individual enrollment to a family enrollment. Individual enrollment fees are $230 annually and will increase to $460 annually for the family enrollment.

• Set Up Automatic Payments for Your Prime Enrollment Fees
  
  • Allotment – Your enrollment fee is deducted from your retirement check. Complete an Enrollment Fee Allotment Authorization Letter and send to TriWest with a three (3) month payment of $115 to establish your account.
  • Electronic Funds Transfer – Provide your current banking information to TriWest and your enrollment fee will be deducted from your account on a monthly basis. To enroll in EFT, complete an Electronic Payment Authorization form and mail to TriWest with your three (3) month family enrollment fee payment of $115.
  • Recurring Credit Card Payments – Your monthly TRICARE payments are automatically charged to your Visa ® or MasterCard®. To enroll, complete a TRICARE Prime Recurring Credit Card Authorization form and send to TriWest with your three (3) month family enrollment fee payment of $115.

DIVORCE

After a divorce, some spouses and dependents may be eligible for care. Former spouses must meet certain criteria to remain TRICARE-eligible.

Spouse/Former Spouse Checklist:

• Update DEERS – Submit a completed Application for Department of Defense Common Access Card and DEERS Enrollment (DD Form 1172 with a copy of your divorce decree to the nearest ID card-issuing facility. You may be asked to provide other documentation.
• Notify TriWest of the change in your eligibility status. Eligible former spouses can continue using their own Social Security Numbers (SSN), but not their sponsor’s. Eligible former spouses can also use their current Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card until it expires and make appointments under their own name and SSN.

Children

After a divorce, children (biological and adopted) of the active duty or retired sponsor remain eligible for TRICARE up to age 21 (or age 23 if enrolled in college full-time and the sponsor continues to provide at least 50 percent of the financial support), as long as their information is kept up-to-date in DEERS.  If the military sponsor did not adopt a step-child, that child will lose TRICARE eligibility when DEERS is updated with the divorce decree. 

While a child normally does not get his or her own uniformed services identification (ID) card until age 10, a child under age 10 should have an ID card when in custody of a parent or guardian who is not eligible for TRICARE benefits or who is not the custodial parent.  Patient privacy may be a factor for divorced parents attempting to obtain information about received health care services.