Survivors
TRICARE will keep covering family members when a sponsor dies. Spouses can keep their coverage until they remarry. Family member health plan options and costs will vary based on:
- The sponsor’s military status when they die
- If the surviving family member is a spouse or child
The scenarios below provide an overview of survivor coverage.
- Survivors of active duty service members
- Survivors of National Guard and Reserve members
- Survivors of retired service members
- Surviving children who may qualify for TRICARE Young Adult
Not sure if your sponsor was on active duty when they died? Contact a casualty assistance officer or your sponsor’s unit/service personnel office.
Updating DEERS
You don’t have to report the death to the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System(DEERS) A database of information on uniformed services members (sponsors), U.S.-sponsored foreign military, DoD and uniformed services civilians, other personnel as directed by the DoD, and their family members. You need to register in DEERS to get TRICARE.. DMDC gets information from the services and Social Security Administration. They’ll update medical and dental for you.
You’ll only have to report the death to Express Scripts.
It may take some time for DMDC to get the information from the SSA. If you prefer, you may notify DMDC of the death by:
- Visiting a local ID card office with a copy of the death certificate,
- Faxing a copy of the death certificate to 800-336-4416 (primary) or 502-335-9980 (alternate), or
- Mailing a copy of the death certificate to:
DMDC/DEERS Support Office
400 Gigling Rd.
Seaside, CA 93955-6771
If you have questions, call DMDC at 800-538-9552. Visit milConnect to learn more.
Last Updated 11/27/2024