Newborn TRICARE Enrollment Guide: 2026 Rules & Deadlines | TRICARE.com

To get your newborn covered by TRICARE, you must register them in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) within **90 days** of birth (120 days if stationed overseas). Failure to register them on time will result in a loss of coverage and potential out-of-pocket costs for birth-related medical care.

*Note: TRICARE.com is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense. For official policy, visit TRICARE.mil.*

Details

### 1. Register in DEERS (Mandatory) The most important step is registering your child in DEERS. You cannot enroll a child in a specific TRICARE plan until they are recognized in the DEERS system. Visit a RAPIDS ID Card Office with the child's birth certificate or certificate of live birth. You do not need a Social Security Number (SSN) immediately to start the process, but you must update DEERS with the SSN once it is issued.

### 2. The 90-Day Rule (120 Days Overseas) Once registered in DEERS, the child is automatically covered under TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select based on their location and the sponsor’s status. However, to *keep* that coverage or choose a specific plan, you must officially enroll them: * **Stateside:** 90 days from birth. * **Overseas:** 120 days from birth.

If you miss this window, your child will only be eligible for care at a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) on a space-available basis, and you will not have coverage for civilian providers until the next Open Season or a Qualifying Life Event (QLE).

### 3. Automatic Enrollment vs. Active Election * **Active Duty Families:** In most cases, if you live in a Prime Service Area, the child is automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime. However, if you prefer TRICARE Select, you must submit an enrollment change within the 90-day window. * **Retirees:** Coverage is not always automatic in the same way. Retirees must proactively enroll the child in a plan (Prime or Select) and may be required to pay enrollment fees.

### 4. Costs and 2026 Rates For 2026, there are no enrollment fees for active duty family members. For retirees, costs depend on the "Group" status of the sponsor: * **Group A (Sponsor enlisted before Jan 1, 2018):** Retirees pay an annual enrollment fee for a family plan (approx. $700–$800 range for 2026; check TRICARE.mil for exact updated figures). * **Group B (Sponsor enlisted on/after Jan 1, 2018):** Higher enrollment fees and different deductible structures apply. * **Copays:** Newborn well-child visits are generally covered at $0 out-of-pocket for all TRICARE plans.

### 5. Regional Contractors Depending on your location, you may need to interface with a specific contractor for enrollment forms: * **East Region:** Humana Military. * **West Region:** TriWest Healthcare Alliance. * **Overseas:** International SOS.

## Who this affects * **Active Duty Service Members:** Mandatory 90-day window. * **National Guard and Reserve:** Specifically those on active duty orders or enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS). * **Retirees:** Must ensure the newborn is added to their family plan to avoid individual billing. * **Survivors:** Benefits continue for newborns of deceased sponsors, provided DEERS is updated.

## Sources 1. **TRICARE.mil - Having a Baby or Adopting:** https://www.tricare.mil/LifeEvents/Baby 2. **DEERS (milConnect):** https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/ 3. **TriWest Healthcare Alliance (West Region):** https://www.triwest.com/ 4. **Humana Military (East Region):** https://www.humanamilitary.com/