DEERS Not Automatic for Families

Active and retired service members are automatically registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) but their family members are not. The sponsor is responsible to register family members into DEERS. Sponsors also must make updates in DEERS for themselves and their family members in order to avoid interruption of Tricare benefits and claims processing. Information that should be kept updated in DEERS includes changes in the sponsor’s status, home address and family status such as marriage, divorce, birth and adoption. It is especially important that surviving family members update their personal information when the sponsor dies. For more information, call (800) 538-9552 or visit www.tricare.osd.mil/DEERS.