To link directly to this toolkit from your websites, use this link: [Health.mil/DEERSToolkit].
To maintain their medical benefits and receive crucial health care and benefit communications, beneficiaries must maintain accurate information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
Please support the Defense Health Agency's efforts to encourage beneficiaries to update their information in DEERS by deploying the resources in this toolkit to beneficiaries.
We've developed this digital toolkit to provide print, digital, and social media graphics to educate beneficiaries about the vital importance of updating their information in DEERS. The resources below will help educate beneficiaries about when, why, and how to update their information in DEERS.
About Updating Information in DEERS
What is DEERS?
DEERS – the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System – is a database of active duty and retired service members, their family members, and others who are eligible for TRICARE. TRICARE eligibility shows up in DEERS based on the sponsor’s status. It’s essential to keep your DEERS record up to date to get timely communication and updates regarding your TRICARE benefits.
Why Do Beneficiaries Need to Update Information in DEERS?
Beneficiary information must be correct and up-to-date in DEERS to ensure that:
- A beneficiary can maintain access to their medical benefits
- A beneficiary’s healthcare team and TRICARE can reach them with critical healthcare, authorization, claims, and enrollment information
When Do Beneficiaries Need to Update DEERS?
Beneficiaries need to update DEERS as soon as possible anytime they move, change contact information, or experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE).
A beneficiary must update DEERS whenever they experience the following (this list is not all-inclusive):
- Change in sponsor’s status
- Retiring or separating
- Activating or deactivating
- Having a baby or adopting
- Moving to a new location for any reason
- Change in a student’s full-time enrollment status
- Becoming eligible for Medicare
- Death of sponsor or family member
If a beneficiary is enrolled in any TRICARE plan (e.g., TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Select, TRICARE Reserve SelectA premium-based plan for qualified Selected Reserve members and their families.TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Retired Reserve or TRICARE Young Adult), remind them to also change their address and other personal information with their regional contractor.
How Do Beneficiaries Update DEERS?
Adding or Removing Family Members
- Only sponsors can add or remove family members:
- Go to a local ID card office.
- Call first to verify business hours or to set up an appointment.
- Or, set up an appointment online.
Updating Your Contact Information
- Contact information includes your address, email addresses or phone number(s). Note: Addresses must be a physical address; P.O. boxes can’t be used.
- Family members can update contact information after they’re registered in DEERS.
- Log into milConnect
- Call 1-800-538-9552 (TTY/TDD: 1-866-363-2883)
- Fax updates to 1-800-336-4416 (Primary) or 1-502-335-9980 (Alternate)
- Mail updates to:
Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office
Attn: COA
400 Gigling Road
Seaside, CA 93955-6771
For more information and resources on updating DEERS, check out the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System page at https://www.tricare.mil/deers. You can also find information on Qualifying Life Events at https://www.tricare.mil/lifeevents.
Resources
Please use the materials below to educate beneficiaries about the vital importance of updating their information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System.