Getting Care

Eligibility and ID Cards

MTFs must verify eligibility for each patient or beneficiary seeking healthcare in the MHS.

Eligibility Verification

MTF personnel must confirm the patient’s identity by inspecting their Department of Defense Identification (DoD ID) card and verifying their entitlement by performing a Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) check.
  • Individuals requesting care must provide satisfactory evidence of their beneficiary status by presenting a valid DoD ID before the MTF provides health care.
  • Photocopies of an DoD ID card will not be accepted as a valid Identification card when seeking care, treatment, or services.
  • MTF personnel must verify the DoD ID card belongs to the patient and ensure it is not expired.

ID Cards for Children

Children Under Age 10

  • Children under 10 years of age must be enrolled in DEERS, but generally do not require their own DoD ID card to prove healthcare eligibility.
  • However, children who are eligible beneficiaries whose parents are dual military or divorced, and the child is not living with the sponsor or is in ward status, but whose guardians are not MHS beneficiaries, are required to have their own DoD ID card.

Children Ages 10 or Older

  • Patients 10 years of age or older who present for care without a valid DoD ID card must first sign (or sponsor, parent, or legally authorized representative if patient is a minor), a Service-specific, or standardized statement indicating their willingness to provide documentation of eligibility within 30 days, or sponsors will be held responsible for the costs associated with the requested treatment or care if ineligible.
  • After the 30th day, if the individual has not produced evidence establishing eligibility and they appear ineligible in DEERS, the applicable MTF office will forward the patient information to the MTF Resource Management Office to initiate the billing process.
  • This procedure applies to outpatient care, inpatient care, and ancillary care.
To learn more visit https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Eligibility/IDCards

 
Don’t forget to keep your family’s information up to date in DEERS!