Simple Ways to Stay Protected

We know life gets busy. Credit cards expire, you move to a new duty station, or your kids head off to college. These everyday changes can accidentally affect your TRICARE coverage if you’re not careful. Missing a premium payment or forgetting to update your information can leave you and your family without coverage when you need it most.

Keeping your coverage up to date means continuing to enjoy the convenience of choosing trusted care from a network of local civilian doctors, the many added benefits that support your well-being, and the peace of mind of being enrolled in the only TRICARE Prime® health plan backed by the medical excellence of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Here’s how to avoid the most common problems that cause members to lose their coverage.

Never Miss a Payment

The Defense Health Agency requires that all USFHP retirees to pay their enrollment fees by allotment from their military retirement pay. Beneficiaries with a qualifying exemption are waived from the requirement and may make payments via a secure payment portal. Learn more about payment options and qualifying exemptions on our Pay My Premium web page. If you need assistance, call our USFHP Billing team at 410-424-4835 or 888-717-8282 (toll-free), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Update Your Coverage When Life Changes

Certain life events can affect your TRICARE coverage. If you don’t take action within 90 days, you or your family members could lose coverage. Our Member Services team and enrollment specialists can help you navigate these changes.

Here are the most common situations:

Activation

When you’re called to active duty for more than 30 days, you and your family get active duty TRICARE benefits. You have 90 days to change your family’s health plan if needed. As a reminder, Active Duty Family Members are eligible to remain with USFHP. Learn more about activating.

Children Turning 21

TRICARE coverage for your children normally ends at age 21. You have 90 days after their birthday to update your plan. There are exceptions for full-time students (coverage until age 23), married children or children with severe disabilities. Learn more about children becoming adults.

Moving to a New Location

Your TRICARE eligibility doesn’t change when you move, but your health plan options might. You have 90 days from your move date to update your plan if you’re relocating to a new country, city, region or ZIP code. Before you make a local move, verify your new ZIP code is in the USFHP service area. Learn more about moving.

Retiring from Active Duty

After you retire, you have 90 days to enroll in a new TRICARE plan. You may also qualify to enroll up to 12 months after retiring. Retirees are eligible for USFHP. You can join your family members on the plan! If you don’t take action, you’ll lose coverage and can only get care at military hospitals or clinics if space is available. Learn more about retiring.

Other Important Changes

If your child goes to college, you’ll need to update their student status in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and may need to change your plan within 90 days if they move away. Learn more about children going to college.

Read more about TRICARE Qualifying Life Events to make sure your family stays covered during important transitions.