Keep Kids Current in DEERS

As a parent, you want to ensure the best for your children, and that includes health care coverage. Your children’s TRICARE eligibility hinges on their DEERS records, so it’s important to keep DEERS updated from birth through college.

New Addition to the Family?

To enroll a newborn or adopted child in TRICARE Prime, you must enroll your children quickly. As parents, you have 60 days from your child’s date of birth or adoption to enroll your child in TRICARE Prime.

To register your new child in DEERS, you must obtain a copy of:

• The child’s birth certificate; OR
• Certificate of live birth; OR
• Adoption papers.

AND

• DD Form 1172 (Application for Uniformed Services Identification Card and DEERS enrollment.) This form must be notarized if the new enrollee does not reside with the sponsor.

File these forms with the base personnel office. In addition to the sponsor, another parent or a guardian should be prepared to show power of attorney if the sponsor is deployed or TDY.

College Bound?

If you have a child headed for college it is important to keep DEERS records updated in order to maintain TRICARE eligibility in their new city. Updating DEERS is easy and can be done in any of the following ways:

• Visit an ID card issuing facility (To locate one, visit www.dmdc.osd.mil)
• Call 1-800-538-9552
• Fax changes to 831-655-8317
• Mail changes to:

                             Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office
                             Attn: COA
                             400 Gigling Rd.
                             Seaside, CA 93955-6771

To update your address only in DEERS, you may do so online by visiting: www.dmdc.osd.mil/appi/address/index.isp.