How To Get TRICARE For a Newborn: 2026 Guide | TRICARE.com

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## Quick answer To get TRICARE for your newborn, you must first register them in the **Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)**. Once registered, you have **90 days** (for those living stateside) or **120 days** (for those overseas) from the date of birth to enroll the child in a specific TRICARE plan.

Details

Getting coverage for a newborn is a two-step process that is time-sensitive. Because a birth is considered a **Qualifying Life Event (QLE)**, you do not have to wait for an open enrollment season.

### Step 1: Register in DEERS You cannot enroll a child in a TRICARE plan until they are in the DEERS system. * Visit a local RAPIDS ID card office. You will need the child’s birth certificate or a certificate of live birth from the hospital. * Note: You do not need the Social Security card to start DEERS registration, but you must update the record once the card arrives.

### Step 2: Enroll in a Plan Once the child shows up in DEERS, you must choose a plan. Use the following timelines to avoid out-of-pocket costs: * **Stateside:** You have **90 days** from birth to enroll. * **Overseas:** You have **120 days** from birth to enroll.

**What happens if you miss the deadline?** If you fail to enroll the child within the 90/120-day window, your child will only be covered for care at a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) on a space-available basis. You will be responsible for all civilian claims until the next Open Season or another QLE occurs.

### Plan Options and 2026 Costs * **TRICARE Prime:** Usually the default for Active Duty families. There are typically $0 enrollment fees for Active Duty families in 2026. * **TRICARE Select:** A PPO-style plan. For Group A retirees (sponsor joined before Jan 1, 2018), there is no individual enrollment fee for the child if the family is already enrolled, but there are 2026 catastrophic caps and deductibles to consider. * **Select Enrollment Fees (Group B):** If the sponsor joined on or after Jan 1, 2018, 2026 enrollment fees for a "Family" plan apply if moving from "Self" to "Family" coverage.

### Regional Contractors (2026) Enrollment is managed by your regional contractor: * **East Region:** Humana Military. * **West Region:** TriWest Healthcare Alliance. * **Overseas:** International SOS.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Full coverage for newborns once registered. * **Retirees:** Must transition from "Individual" to "Family" enrollment if the newborn is the first child. * **National Guard & Reserve:** Applies to those using TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS). * **Survivors:** New dependents of deceased sponsors remain eligible for coverage.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil:** [Qualifying Life Event - 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)