Newborn TRICARE Coverage: Registration & Enrollment Guide

*TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not a government agency. For official policy and enrollment, visit TRICARE.mil.*

## Quick answer Your newborn is automatically covered by TRICARE for the first 60 to 90 days of life, but **you must register them in DEERS and enroll them in a plan** to keep coverage active. If you miss the 90-day enrollment window (for stateside families), you may have to wait until an Open Enrollment period to get them back on a plan.

Details

### The "Automatic" Period From the moment of birth, your baby is covered as a "TRICARE Prime" beneficiary for a limited time. This grace period allows you to seek immediate pediatric care without a confirmed Social Security number or plan selection. * **Stateside:** 90 days from birth. * **Overseas:** 120 days from birth.

### Step 1: DEERS Registration You cannot enroll a child in a TRICARE plan until they are in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). 1. Obtain a birth certificate (or a certificate of live birth from the hospital). 2. Visit a RAPIDS ID card office. You do **not** need the baby’s Social Security card yet to start this process, but you must update DEERS once the SSN arrives.

### Step 2: Choosing and Enrolling in a Plan Once registered in DEERS, the birth is considered a **Qualifying Life Event (QLE)**. You have 90 days (120 overseas) to choose a plan. If you do nothing, coverage will drop after the grace period ends, and you may be responsible for all medical bills incurred after that date.

* **TRICARE Prime:** Best for active duty families. No enrollment fees and $0 copays for most care at Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs). * **TRICARE Select:** Offers more flexibility to see civilian providers. For Group B (active duty joined after Jan 1, 2018), there are no annual enrollment fees for families in 2026, but there is a deductible. * **TRICARE Select (Retirees):** For 2026, retirees in Group A typically pay an annual enrollment fee (roughly $380–$400 for individuals, but check TRICARE.mil for exact 2026 inflation-adjusted figures).

### Costs for Childbirth and Newborn Care * **Active Duty Families:** Generally $0 out-of-pocket for birth and newborn care if using TRICARE Prime. On TRICARE Select, you may owe a small per-day cost-share for the hospital stay. * **Retirees:** Costs vary by plan. Under TRICARE Select in 2026, you will likely pay a percentage (e.g., 20% to 25%) of the allowed amount for newborn office visits once the deductible is met.

### The 2025 Contractor Shift As of Jan 1, 2025, **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** manages the West Region. If you live in the West, you will coordinate newborn specialist care through TriWest. Families in the East continue to use **Humana Military**.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Automatic 90-day window to register. * **Retirees:** Must pay enrollment fees for the child to maintain coverage. * **National Guard/Reserve:** Applicable to those on active duty orders or enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS). * **Surviving Spouses:** Coverage windows apply to newborns of deceased service members.

## Sources * **TRICARE.mil Newborn Page:** https://www.tricare.mil/LifeEvents/Baby * **Humana Military (East):** https://www.humanamilitary.com/ * **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West):** https://www.triwest.com/ * **DEERS (milConnect):** https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/