Death

If your sponsor dies, you are automatically eligible for TRICARE benefits as long as your information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) is up-to-date. TRICARE coverage remains available as follows:

• Spouses remain eligible for TRICARE unless they remarry. Eligibility cannot be regained later even if the surviving spouse divorces or the new spouse dies.
• Children (biological or adopted) remain eligible up to the normal age limits.
• Widowed spouses remain eligible for TRICARE unless they remarry. If enrolled in TRICARE Prime, spouses may remain enrolled but will be responsible for enrollment fees.

Spouse Health Care Options

If your active duty sponsor dies while serving, you remain eligible for TRICARE benefits as an active duty family member, with the same costs and coverage, for three year’s following your sponsor’s death. During this three-year period, you are considered a "transitional survivor." In most cases, you don’t have to do anything to remain covered.

Transitional Survivor Benefits

You are eligible for TRICARE Prime, Prime Remote or the US Family Health Plan during the three-year transitional survivor period. If you are already enrolled in one of these options, your coverage will continue as long as your information in DEERS remains current. You do not need to re-enroll.

If you choose not to enroll in TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote or the US Family Health Plan, you will be covered under TRICARE Standard and Extra. Active duty family member deductible and cost sharing amounts will apply.

Survivor Benefits after Three Years

After three years, you remain eligible for TRICARE Prime, the US Family Health Plan and TRICARE Standard and Extra at retired family member rates. TRICARE Prime and US Family Health Plan enrollment fees ($230 annually) and network co-payments will apply. You may not enroll in TRICARE Prime Remote after the transitional survivor period ends.

Children Health Care Options

Biological and adopted children remain eligible for TRICARE with the same costs as active duty family members until they lose eligibility for TRICARE at age 21 (or age 23 if enrolled in college full-time).

Surviving children may enroll in TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote and the US Family Health Plan at any time after the death of the sponsor. If enrolling together with a surviving spouse, only one enrollment application is necessary. Surviving children who are already enrolled in one of these plans do not need to do anything. They will not be disenrolled, so coverage is continuous as long as their information in DEERS remains current.

Children who do not enroll in TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Prime Remote or the US Family Health Plan are covered by TRICARE Standard and Extra. Active duty family member’s deductibles and cost-sharing amounts will apply.

Updating DEERS

Each family member must be updated separately in DEERS when changes occur. Family members can make updates with a notarized DD Form 1172. You may submit the form in one of two ways:

Visit the nearest ID card-issuing facility

• Call 1-800-538-9552
• Fax changes to 831-655-8317
• Mail the complete, notarized form to:
  DMDC Support Office
  Attn: COA
  400 Gigling Rd.
  Seaside, CA 93955-6771

Online changes can be made to your mailing address, e-mail address or telephone numbers at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/address/indexAction.do