DEERS Registration Guide: TRICARE Eligibility & Updates | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System) is the mandatory database that stores information for service members and their families to confirm TRICARE eligibility. You cannot receive TRICARE benefits or fill prescriptions until the sponsor registers the family in DEERS and keeps their contact information updated.

Details

DEERS registration is the "master switch" for your military benefits. If your information in DEERS is incorrect or outdated, TRICARE claims will be denied, and you may be unable to use your pharmacy benefits.

### How to Register The **sponsor** (the service member) is the only person who can add family members to DEERS. This must be done in person at a Real-time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) office. You can find a location and schedule an appointment via the [ID Card Office Online](https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/).

**Required Documents for Registration:** * **Marriage:** Marriage certificate, birth certificate, and Social Security card. * **Birth/Adoption:** Birth certificate or certificate of live birth; Social Security card (once received). * **Divorce:** Final divorce decree. * **Death:** Death certificate.

### Updating DEERS Once registered, you must update DEERS every time you move, change phone numbers, or have a "Qualifying Life Event" (QLE). Unlike registration, updates can often be done online, by mail, or by phone. * **Online:** Visit the [MilConnect website](https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/). * **Phone:** Call the DMDC/DEERS Support Office at 1-800-538-9552. * **Mail:** Send address changes to the Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office in Seaside, CA.

### Costs and Deadlines There is no "fee" to register for DEERS, but failure to update DEERS within 90 days (120 days for overseas) of a Qualifying Life Event like a birth or marriage can result in a loss of TRICARE coverage backdated to the date of the event. Under 2026 guidelines, failing to register a newborn promptly can result in substantial out-of-pocket medical bills if the "automatic" 90-day coverage window expires before DEERS is updated.

### The Role of Managed Care Support Contractors While DEERS tracks eligibility, the regional contractors—**Humana Military** (East) and **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** (West)—manage your actual enrollment in specific plans like TRICARE Prime or Select. You must be in DEERS first before these contractors can process your plan enrollment.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Required for themselves and all dependents. * **Retirees:** Must keep contact info current to ensure TRICARE For Life or Select remains active. * **National Guard & Reserve:** Crucial for transitioning between "active" status and "line of duty" coverage. * **Family Members:** Spouses and children (up to age 21, or 23 if a full-time student). * **Survivors:** Required to maintain eligibility for survivor benefits.

## Sources * TRICARE.mil: [DEERS Overview](https://www.tricare.mil/deers) * MilConnect (DMDC): [Updating Beneficiary Records](https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/) * Defense Health Agency (DHA): [Eligibility & Enrollment](https://health.mil/) * TriWest Healthcare Alliance: [West Region Enrollment Info](https://www.triwest.com/)