DEERS and Your TRICARE Benefits

Don’t Forget About DEERS

Keeping all of your family’s information up-to-date in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) is essential for maintaining your TRICARE benefit coverage. Updating your information is simple, and in this blog you’ll find the necessary resources to help you avoid the unnecessary headache of losing your TRICARE coverage. The last thing I want is for you to experience a lapse in coverage because your information in DEERS was not updated. Remember, while keeping DEERS current is simple, it is ultimately your responsibility, so please take a look at the following information.

What is DEERS?

DEERS is a worldwide, computerized database of uniformed services members (sponsors), their family members and others who are eligible for military benefits. TRICARE uses the information in DEERS to verify TRICARE eligibility. For an overview on DEERS, visit TRICARE’s eligibility Web page.

To learn more about TRICARE, check-out our TRICARE overview.

When do I update DEERS?

Any time you or your family experiences a life-changing event, remember to update DEERS. Keeping your information updated will prevent you from losing your health care eligibility. Examples include:

* Retiring or separating from active duty
* Activating or deactivating from National Guard or Reserve
* Changing your service status (enlisting to officer, changing branch, etc.)
* Getting married or divorced
* Having a baby or adopting a child
* Moving
* Becoming eligible for Medicare (sponsor or family member)
* Losing a family member

How do I update my information?

Simple. There are a number of ways to update your information:

* In Person
To add or remove family members, visit a local ID card office. You can search for an office near you by ZIP code, city, state or country by visiting the ID card office locator. Call the office first to verify address and business hours.

* By Phone
Call the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office at 1-800-538-9552 to update your home address, e-mail and phone numbers. (TTY/TDD for the deaf: 1-866-363-2883)

* By Fax
Fax home address, e-mail or phone number changes to the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office at 1-831-655-8317.

* By Mail
Mail changes to the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office. You must include supporting documentation if you are updating a family member's status:

Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office
Attn: Change of Address
400 Gigling Road
Seaside, CA 93955-6771

* Online
You have two options for updating personal information online:

1. Visit the DEERS Web site and follow the steps to update your home address, e-mail and phone numbers online.

2. Via the Beneficiary Web Enrollment Web site. The site is linked directly to the DEERS database, so when you make changes, it updates your information in DEERS and with your regional contractor.

Oh No! I’m not eligible in DEERS. What do I do?

If you find that you are not eligible in DEERS, contact the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office at 1-800-538-9552.

Remember that your eligibility is ultimately determined by your branch of service. For questions about your eligibility requirements, contact your service representative. Once your eligibility is established, maintaining your information in DEERS is up to you.

I urge all of you to keep DEERS current and your health care running smoothly. As always, please let me know how DEERS and TRICARE are working for you.