Update Your Information in DEERS Today!

Have you updated your DEERS? If not, you must visit the nearest ID Card issuing facility and unit personnel shop to ensure that DEERS information is correct and current. Active duty and Reserve Component service members must update their own and their Family members' eligibility information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Sponsors and Family members actually lose access to their TRICARE health care benefits when "loss of eligibility" appears in DEERS; they are unable to make appointments, get prescriptions filled, or have claims processed correctly. Action must be taken by the sponsor and his/her Family members to update information in DEERS as well as in their military personnel records. For additional information about DEERS or to update an address in DEERS, visit www.tricare.osd.mil/deers/.

Click here to download a copy of the new DEERS Awareness Campaign Poster or Flyer for your use!

Did you know that if you change your status or address, and do not update your DEERS eligibility?

• Your prescriptions may not be filled.
• Medical claims may be denied, and you will have to pay out of pocket.
• You cannot make an appointment at a military treatment facility (MTF) or with a TRICARE network provider.

What should you do? Update DEERS!

It is important to update your Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) record when your eligibility and personal information changes. These include changes in your military career, address, Family status (marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, etc.) For basic information on eligibility, review the TRICARE Eligibility Fact Sheet and the TRICARE Eligibility Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web page. You may also visit the TRICARE SMART Site to download DEERS posters and flyers.

Remember: 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.
• 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 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. (NOTE: Click here for contact info.)

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.

You may update your DEERS address in several ways:

• Visit the DEERS website; this is the quick and easy way to do it!
• Visit a local personnel office that has a uniformed services I.D. card facility. To locate the nearest military ID card facility visit click here (call ahead for hours of operation and for instructions if you are updating a record for someone who is house bound).
• Fax address changes to 1-831-655-8317.
• Call the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office (DSO) Telephone Center at 1-800-538-9552. The best time to call the Telephone Center is between 0600 - 1500 (Pacific Time) Wednesday through Friday to avoid delays.
• Mail the changed information to:

  DSO

  ATTN: COA

  400 Gigling Road

  Seaside, CA, 93955-6771

To update information other than your address, you will need to provide important pieces of documentation, such as marriage, birth, or death certificates, DD 214s, etc. Contact the nearest military ID card facility to find out what documents you need to update eligibility information in DEERS.

Once you have the necessary documents, you can present them at the ID Card facility or send a letter or fax to the DSO at the address and number noted above.

For additional questions regarding your DEERS record, call the DSO Telephone Center at 1-800-538-9552. The hours of operation are 0600 - 1530 (Pacific Time) Monday - Friday (excluding federal holidays).