Showing Your ID to Providers

Are you checking in for an appointment at a military hospital or clinic or civilian provider office? You’ll always have to show your Uniformed Services ID card. Your civilian provider is allowed to make a copy of your ID.

Department of Defense Benefits Number

The DOD Benefits Number is an 11-digit number on the back of your Uniformed Services ID card. It verifies your TRICARE eligibility and helps you file your claims.

Your doctor’s office will need to use this number to file claims.
You’ll need to use it if you’re filing your own claims.

Your card also includes a DOD ID number. This is a 10-digit number on the front of the ID card. You shouldn’t use your DOD ID number to submit claims. Using your DOD ID number on your claim could result in a denial of your claim.

Next Generation Uniformed Services ID Card

The DOD upgraded the Uniformed Services ID cards to a newer, more secure design.

Next Generation USID Card Type	Recipients Include
Department of Defense / Uniformed Services Sponsor Identification and Privilege Card	Retired service members Disabled and retired veterans Retired members and select Employer Support members of the National Guard and Reserve Those eligible for Transitional Assistance Management Program This list isn’t all-inclusive. For a complete list of eligible recipients, visit CAC.mil. Cards with a blue bar are for non-U.S. citizens.
Department of Defense / Uniformed Services Dependent Identification and Privilege Card	Dependents of: Active duty service members Reserve members on active duty for more than 30 days Retired service members Disabled and retired veterans Reserve members not on active duty or receive retired pay Reserve members who die after receipt of notice of eligibility Surviving dependents of: Active duty and retired service members This list isn’t all-inclusive. For a complete list of eligible recipients, visit CAC.mil.
Armed Forces of the United States Geneva Conventions Identification Card	Members of the Individual Ready Reserve and inactive National Guard Non-CAC-eligible civilian noncombatant personnel deployed in conjunction with military operations overseas This list isn’t all-inclusive. For a complete list of eligible recipients, visit CAC.mil.

Next Generation USID Card Type

Recipients Include

Department of Defense / Uniformed Services
Sponsor Identification and Privilege Card

Retired service members
Disabled and retired veterans
Retired members and select Employer Support members of the National Guard and Reserve
Those eligible for Transitional Assistance Management Program

This list isn’t all-inclusive. For a complete list of eligible recipients, visit CAC.mil.

Cards with a blue bar are for non-U.S. citizens.

Department of Defense / Uniformed Services
Dependent Identification and Privilege Card

Dependents of:

Active duty service members
Reserve members on active duty for more than 30 days
Retired service members
Disabled and retired veterans
Reserve members not on active duty or receive retired pay
Reserve members who die after receipt of notice of eligibility

Surviving dependents of:

Active duty and retired service members

This list isn’t all-inclusive. For a complete list of eligible recipients, visit CAC.mil.

Armed Forces of the United States
Geneva Conventions Identification Card

Members of the Individual Ready Reserve and inactive National Guard
Non-CAC-eligible civilian noncombatant personnel deployed in conjunction with military operations overseas

This list isn’t all-inclusive. For a complete list of eligible recipients, visit CAC.mil.

Important milConnect Update

Starting May 21, myAuth will begin replacing DS Logon for milConnect access. Learn more about the myAuth transition.

Attention TRICARE Users: myAuth will roll out in phases. This will start with milConnect and ID Card Office Online on May 21. Over time, all DOD applications that use DS Logon will transition to myAuth.

Last Updated 3/14/2025