Tricare Help: What if estranged husband won’t let us get IDs? - Getting out, military health issues - Navy Times

Tricare Help: What if estranged husband won’t let us get IDs?

Q. My estranged husband of 26 years is an Army retiree and has been extremely hostile since I left our abusive relationship. In the 2½ years we have been separated, he has disobeyed every court order issued for child support and disclosure of income and assets. Now my daughter and I need new military ID cards to prove our coverage under Tricare — our only health insurance. Although I have been told that a hostile spouse can’t terminate Tricare before the divorce is final, he will undoubtedly refuse to process the paperwork necessary for the new ID cards. How can I get the new ID cards without his cooperation?

A. Once you divorce your husband, your and your daughter’s Tricare eligibility will be separate issues.

Your daughter is automatically eligible for Tricare because her father is a retired service member. To use Tricare, she must be registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System and be issued her ID card. Only the uniformed services or the Defense Department can do either of those things for her. Her father’s permission, approval or assistance is not required.

You may need official help to register her in DEERS and to get her ID card if her father will not cooperate. All you need to do is call DEERS at 800-538-9552.

Your letter implies that you will still be eligible for Tricare after your divorce because of your 26 years of marriage. DEERS can help you with that, too. If you meet the requirements as a former spouse, you are legally eligible for Tricare, and DEERS will help you get registered and get a proper ID card.

Your former husband does not have the power or the authority to prevent you from using Tricare. He cannot control your access to care and has no right to know whether you file Tricare claims or anything about your medical care. That is all confidential.

The court may grant your former husband the right to information about his daughter’s claims and medical care. That’s something to discuss with an attorney.

Q. I’m an active-duty soldier and my girlfriend and I are getting ready to have a baby. She doesn’t have health care at the moment. I know the baby can be covered for care as my dependent, but can my girlfriend have the baby in a military hospital?

A. Whether your girlfriend can give birth at a military hospital does not fall under Tricare’s authority. Only your local military hospital can decide that. Contact the Patient Administration Office for an official answer.

Of course, the problem is instantly resolved if you get married — she would be covered under Tricare. The baby will be covered after birth either way.

Call the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System at 800-538-9552 to discuss that matter.

Write to Tricare Help, Times News Service, 6883 Commercial Drive, Springfield, VA 22159; or tricarehelp@militarytimes.com. In email, include the word “Tricare” in the subject line and do not attach files. Get Tricare advice any time at www.militarytimes.com/tricarehelp.