Adding a Newborn to TRICARE: 2026 Enrollment Guide | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer To add a newborn to TRICARE, you must first register them in the **Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)**. Once registered, you have 90 days (120 days if stationed overseas) to select and enroll them in a specific TRICARE plan; otherwise, they may only be covered for "space-available" care in military hospitals.

Details

Adding a child is a **Qualifying Life Event (QLE)**. Because TRICARE coverage is not automatic beyond the first few days of life, following these steps in order is critical to avoid sapphire-high medical bills.

### Phase 1: DEERS Registration (The Most Important Step) You cannot enroll a child in a plan until they exist in the DEERS system. * **Action:** Visit a RAPIDS ID Card Office. You will need the child’s birth certificate or a certificate of live birth from the hospital. * **Timeline:** Do this as soon as possible after birth. You do not need the Social Security card to start the process, but you must update DEERS with the SSN once it arrives.

### Phase 2: Choosing and Enrolling in a Plan Once the child is in DEERS, you must proactively enroll them in a plan. Effective in 2026, the windows for enrollment are: * **Stateside:** 90 days from the date of birth. * **Overseas:** 120 days from the date of birth.

**Plan Options:** * **TRICARE Prime:** If you are Active Duty, the child is typically enrolled in Prime automatically once in DEERS, but you should verify this with your regional contractor (Humana Military in the East or TriWest in the West). * **TRICARE Select:** If you prefer to use civilian providers, you must manually elect Select. * **TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS):** If you are a member of the Selected Reserve, you must log into the Beneficiary Web Enrollment (BWE) portal to add the child to your existing TRS coverage or switch from "Self-only" to "Self and Family."

### Costs and Fees (2026 Rates) * **Active Duty Families:** There are $0 enrollment fees for newborns. * **Retirees (Group A):** For 2026, retirees generally pay an annual enrollment fee for family coverage (~$394.50 for Prime or ~$589.50 for Select, subject to annual adjustments). * **Backdated Coverage:** As long as you enroll within the QLE window, coverage is backdated to the date of birth. Claims for the child’s first few days will be processed once the enrollment is finalized.

### What happens if you miss the deadline? If you fail to enroll the child within the 90/120-day window, the child will only have access to care at a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) on a "space-available" basis. You will have to wait until the next **TRICARE Open Season** (typically held in late fall) to enroll them for the following year, unless you experience another QLE.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Mandatory registration to ensure the child is covered under Prime or Select. * **Retirees:** Must update DEERS and adjust family premiums. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Must update BWE to change from "Self" to "Family" coverage. * **Survivors:** Required for continuing benefits for new dependents.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Qualifying Life Events - Birth](https://www.tricare.mil/lifeevents/baby) * **Defense Manpower Data Center (DEERS):** [ID Card Office Online](https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/) * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region):** [TriWest.com](https://www.triwest.com) * **Humana Military (East Region):** [HumanaMilitary.com](https://www.humanamilitary.com)