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. Parents have 60 days from a 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.
For Prime-eligible newborns, parents should complete a DD Form 2876 for their child. Once completed, enrollment forms should be mailed to TriWest at:
| If enclosing payment: | Mail form only: |
| TriWest Healthcare Alliance | TriWest Healthcare Alliance |
| P.O. Box 43590 | P.O. Box 41520 |
| Phoenix, AZ 85080-3590 | Phoenix, AZ 85080-1520 |
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.